Can employer cancel right to sick pay?

bb999

I (and all my colleagues) have today been given a memo stating that with immediate effect our right to paid sick leave is being suspended.

My question is simple - can they do this without offering some form of compensation?

The reason they have given is (of course) the economic climate, and the fact that some staff in another part of the business have been put on short time.

I hardly take any time off sick, no more than 2 days over the last 3 years, but that is not the point - what if I become seriously ill, the last thing I want is the stress of having no money.

I and many other members of staff have been at the same company for 20+ years and have always been entitled to sick pay.

LinasPilibaitisisbatman

The contract likely says that sick pay is discretionary.

Any contract I have had whilst the norm to receive it has had the little proviso in it. Remember the employers scheme is seperate from SSP. They can't take that off you.

Floss

bb999 wrote: »

....... what if I become seriously ill, the last thing I want is the stress of having no money.

Maybe you should consider the various income protection insurances that are available - if you are in a position to afford it & are eligible.

Uncertain

LinasPilibaitisisbatman wrote: »

The contract likely says that sick pay is discretionary.

Any contract I have had whilst the norm to receive it has had the little proviso in it. Remember the employers scheme is seperate from SSP. They can't take that off you.

Why do you take the view that your "experience" is the norm?

In many contracts the sick pay provision is very much "part of the package". If it is in any way discretionary this tends to be after the contracted period has run out.

If a certain amount of sick pay (e.g 3 months full pay, 3 months half pay) is a fixed part of you contract then they cannot just impose a change.

If it says something like " sick pay may be paid at the firm's discretion" then they may be able to withdraw it. However, even then it may have become a right by custom.

Come what may, SSP has to be paid.

teabelly

If it is a serious issue then it should be brought up via a union or at least all staff that disagree with the new contractual arrangements should raise a grievance about the change.

I'd start looking for another job. If sick pay is being removed then the company is probably going to go under. There should be some compromise available. Say a max of so many days per year to reduce the slackers but allow for genuine illness. If they are removing it then sick leave must already be a problem. What other methods are they doing to reduce it eg encouraging healthy eating, exercise, stopping smoking, losing weight, keeping away from the under 5s and their numerous bugs

-BA-

Uncertain wrote: »

Why do you take the view that your "experience" is the norm?

In many contracts the sick pay provision is very much "part of the package". If it is in any way discretionary this tends to be after the contracted period has run out.

If a certain amount of sick pay (e.g 3 months full pay, 3 months half pay) is a fixed part of you contract then they cannot just impose a change.

If it says something like " sick pay may be paid at the firm's discretion" then they may be able to withdraw it. However, even then it may have become a right by custom.

Come what may, SSP has to be paid.

Can't believe I am doing this but here I am defending Linas. I don't think he was stating it was the general norm, I think he was stating it was the norm in all the contracts he has had worked to. That is how I read it on this occasion.