Royal Mail to axe 2,000 jobs after coronavirus crisis hits business

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The company has continued to deliver mail during the pandemic but in a statement on is website it said it had been hit hard.

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“We continue to work hard to collect, process and deliver the UK’s mail in unprecedented times,” it said.

“However, along with other organisations, we are experiencing increased levels of employee absence due to illness and self-isolation.

“To manage these severe absence levels, we are implementing a range of mitigations.

“Our delivery operation is a key part of keeping the country moving. So, we have chosen not to avail of the UK Government’s furlough scheme, except in some very limited circumstances. In fact, we have put even more resources in to keep delivering.

“This includes additional overtime provision.”

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The job cuts come as part of a management overhaul under plans to save £330 million over the next two years.

The cull will affect some of its 9,700 managers, with senior executive and non-operational roles hardest hit.

Keith Williams, interim executive chairman at Royal Mail Group, said the firm is taking ‘immediate action’ on costs to offset the Covid-19 impact.

He said: “In recent years, our UK business has not adapted quickly enough to the changes in our marketplace of more parcels and fewer letters.

“Covid-19 has accelerated those trends, presenting additional challenges.

“We will work closely with our managers and their representatives during this difficult period.”