(Adds quote, details)
LONDON, April 6 (Reuters) - The head of Britain's biggest
telecoms firm BT said he would donate his salary to
health workers for at least six months and award a pay rise to
his frontline staff who are maintaining broadband networks
during the coronavirus shutdown.
Philip Jansen, one of Britain's richest executives from his
time overseeing the flotation of payments processor Worldpay,
also said the company committed to no job losses related to the
health crisis for at least three months.
A previous commitment to make an award of 500 million pounds
($615 million) worth of shares to all employees will also go
ahead.
"This is an unprecedented situation and I want to give our
people some certainty about the months ahead," he said. "This
period requires sacrifices from us all, and I want our people to
know we are all in this together," he said.
Jansen tested positive for COVID-19 in early March, forcing
him to work remotely from home.
Providing the country's biggest broadband, phone line and
mobile network, BT is battling to maintain connectivity as
millions of people work from home.
In recent days it has also had to contend with arson attacks
and the abuse of some staff from people who believe that 5G
masts play a role in spreading the virus.
($1 = 0.8131 pounds)
(Reporting by Kate Holton; editing by James Davey)
BT (BT.A)
