The value retailer has said staff will not receive sick pay following their first day of absence or for any subsequent day taken within a 12-month period.

Employees who have been with the business for less than a year will also receive no sick pay at all.

The new policy will be enforced from April 1 onwards. The retailer said it has been put in place to curb its “high sickness absence levels” and bring it in line with competitors.