SSP Advice needed please

RiverStar

Hi everyone,
Just started a new job a few months ago and payroll is part of my duties. I work for a large organisation and do admin/payroll for one of their branches. My query is:
One of the employees has a poor attendance record, don't think she has worked a full week in the 3 months I've been there, works one day off rest of week, excuses range from cold/bruises/family problems et al. She did have a bereavement in her family and was paid accordingly for this-3days. As we work a month then get paid for it, the absences etc are adjusted and taken off the next month's salary. This girl has complained that she has no money to live on and has no sick pay (she didn't hand in any sick lines)
Although my company does not pay full days pay for being off- it is sick pay, My query is :
a)does the government pay out a certain amount per year/per sickness episode or do they pay SSP anyway as long as have sick line.?
b) It's her responsibility to produce sick lines isn't it.?

I've checked out the company policy on sickness but didn't really tell me anything, just who to report absence to.

Many thanks for reading this and advising as I feel for the girl having no money if sickness is genuine (not sure if it is) but on other hand don't know what she wants me to do about it. She's even had the council calling saying she cant pay her rent!!!

Ta

R x

Apolonation

It depends how continual the periods of abscence are, if they are less than a week she can self certificate. If you feel they are disingenuous then you would warn verbally then in writing and take it from there I imagine.

RiverStar

Thanks, Apolonation, the absences can vary in length from 2, 4 , 5 days at a time. She has already been warned re absences, but I think another word is in order. Thing is, she owed the company 88 (about 3 weeks- work 1 day off 3 days etc for 3 weeks, was paid this as no sick lines handed in) hours sick pay which of course they are entitled to take off next wage and they did because she probably wont work enough hours. Now demanding to talk to me as she has no money and I dont know what to tell her/do except maybe you should not be off sick so much!!

Anihilator

I would imagine any period that qualifies for SSP (i.e those days past 3 days) you will need to pay her as long as she followed company sick notification.

The fact she keeps doing it is an issue for her line management to deal with. Until such a time they tell you otherwise you should keep paying her SSP where she is entitled to it.

For clarification until she is told otherwise absenses less than a week - after 3 days SSP on self certification. Those over a week need a sick line with SSP after 3 days.

If the employer has occupation sick pay then you need to comply with this. If this is discretionary then other than SSP withhold

I think tbh through your own management you need to raise your concerns and suggestions that this persons line management need to take serious and quick action about her attendence and the payment she receives for it without sick notes.

When she phones you advice her you will recalculate her pay based on SSP only where legally entitled and pay any balance. Beyond this her financial problems are not your concern and you should not entertain any conversation regarding this. Let her know if she has personal problems that affect her work to speak to her line manager.

Savvy_Sue

Yes, it's her responsibility to either produce a GP certificate, or self-certify. The company should have a policy on self-certification for sick leave of less than 3 days, which is when the SSP1 form kicks in - look for that on the HMRC website. (Ours is that you fill in the SSP1 form anyway, 'cos that's as easy as producing a different form, we just don't 'do' anything with them if they're for less than 3 days!)

Is it YOUR responsibility to decide who gets paid what, or just to deal with the mechanics of it? I'd be speaking to a manager about whether you're following procedures correctly and leave it to her to argue the toss with her line manager about whether her sickness record is acceptable or not.

Apolonation

There are some companies which for a fee give you advice on these types of things, they can also provide stock forms etc... an old employer I worked for was a small business and had one person that handled payroll and they used this type of service.

Not only would it save your sanity! As it must be stressful dealing with these things if you don't know where you stand, but it would protect your company a bit, as if propper procedures aren't followed it could be damaging to the company you work for!

Good luck

RiverStar

Thanks guys for all your replies, going to have a word with my manager tomorrow so he will approach her.
SavvySue - your right her money problems are not mine, and I do mostly deal with the mechanics of it as HO pay the salary. I'll look at the HMRC website for guidance also and ask Ho to re calculate her pay against any sick notes etc.

Thanks again all x

midnight_ninja

How much sick pay she gets depends on how long shes been there and any absences in the year (sicklines are also good evidence wise for absences over a week long), and there may be waiting days , in the company i work for its 3 waiting days where you get ssp only then after that the sick pay kicks in for 4 weeks for a employee of one year , however if she takes odd days off and not consistently it may not pay in her favour , it would really depend on your company and how they function , also the management can withhold sick pay in some cases ,she should at least be getting ssp payments although this runs out if you claim it over a long period of time also, hope this helps