Sick pay entitlement

Karazamov

I have recently started a job with a large supermarket and was surprised to be told that I would not be paid for the first three days of anytime I have off sick. Is this normal nowadays (I have been out of the country for the last 7 years)? Luckily, I am not sick very often, well no more than the average person, but cannot help but think of how much worse I am going to feel lying in my bed with the flu knowing that each day is costing me 70 odd quid!

Sambucus_Nigra

Yes, it is not only normal but the law.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Illorinjured/DG_175843

bobajob_1966

Yep, pretty common now - it discourages short term sickies.

KiKi

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

Yes, it is not only normal but the law.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Illorinjured/DG_175843

Just to clarify (and I know you know this, SN, but for anyone who might take your statement the wrong way!), it's not the law that you can't be paid for three days then only SSP, but those are the minimum legal requirements.

Many companies do pay sick pay from day one, and some pay salary, not just SSP. But plenty only do the legal minimum.

KiKi

Karazamov

I see. Probably explain why the woman next to me was sat coughing her lungs up over her monitor with the sort of cough that would make even a homeless urchin shudder.

bobajob_1966

Karazamov wrote: »

I see. Probably explain why the woman next to me was sat coughing her lungs up over her monitor with the sort of cough that would make even a homeless urchin shudder.

Nothing to stop her going to the doctor in her own time!

LittleVoice

Karazamov wrote: »

I have recently started a job with a large supermarket and was surprised to be told that I would not be paid for the first three days of anytime I have off sick. Is this normal nowadays (I have been out of the country for the last 7 years)? Luckily, I am not sick very often, well no more than the average person, but cannot help but think of how much worse I am going to feel lying in my bed with the flu knowing that each day is costing me 70 odd quid!

As far as statutory sick pay is concerned it is not new: has been the case for as long as I can remember.

There are 3 "waiting days" and then statutory sick pay kicks in. However you can get linked sickness absences where the 3 days applies to the first absence and subsequent sick periods link to the first and there are no extra waiting days.

Statutory sick pay is £81.60 a week if your pay is £102 or more per week.

There may or may not be a company sick pay scheme. That can have its own rules but cannot be less favourable than the statutory scheme.

Sambucus_Nigra

KiKi wrote: »

Just to clarify (and I know you know this, SN, but for anyone who might take your statement the wrong way!), it's not the law that you can't be paid for three days then only SSP, but those are the minimum legal requirements.

Many companies do pay sick pay from day one, and some pay salary, not just SSP. But plenty only do the legal minimum.

KiKi

Yeah - am in bed so just posted link.

StephenM_2

bobajob_1966 wrote: »

Yep, pretty common now - it discourages short term sickies.

And also encourages staff to go to work when they are sick, infecting colleagues and customers.

Thankfully I work for a company that pays me full salary from day 1 up to a maximum of 45 weeks. Having said that I haven't taken any sick leave since I got swine flu in the 2009 epidemic.