Small business staff - sick pay

irfb87

So my fiancee and myself has a small hotel and we employ two staff members.

We've had a slight issue and are wondering what the future could hold as a result..

One of our staff members went out on a Saturday night with his girlfriend...The story as he told it: at 4am he wanted to pack it in and go to sleep, she wanted to continue to party with friends (despite him needing to start at 7:30am)... at 6am he lost the plot and told everyone to go home/get out, was so enraged he kicked a bin in their house to pieces.. unfortunately the bin was a tad close to the wall and he may have broken his foot as a result.

He's taken the day off today and as it's not better he's heading to the hospital tomorrow for an x-ray...

So, as mentioned, we're a small hotel, we've got a lot to do to bring this place up to scratch (from the previous owners) and the last thing we need is to be paying for a staff member who cannot work (he's a handy man). Is it tough luck? Or is there something that can be done?

He is actually probably the kind of guy that would ask to be paid for the week and 'work it off' over time, however I'd imagine that's not strictly legal... I'm just wondering what our options might be?

Thanks

tomtontom

What does his contract say? If nothing is specified then you would need to pay him SSP (after a three day waiting period).

irfb87

tomtontom wrote: »

What does his contract say? If nothing is specified then you would need to pay him SSP (after a three day waiting period).

That's just it, helpful solicitor has stuffed up the contracts so they're currently on their old contracts from the previous owner - which I conclude was written by an 9 year old who has just learnt microsoft word....

SSP it is then...

Mistral001

Remember your sick employee will have to provide a provide a sick note from the doctor if you want to reclaim the SSP from government department. I cannot remember how to do a reclaim. Possibly through PAYE, but not absolutely sure.

TheTracker

Always lovely to see heartwarming compassion at this time of year, it warms the cockles it does, nice and toasty warm.

notanewuser

Mistral001 wrote: »

Remember your sick employee will have to provide a provide a sick note from the doctor if you want to reclaim the SSP from government department. I cannot remember how to do a reclaim. Possibly through PAYE, but not absolutely sure.

I don't think anyone can reclaim SSP any more.

cavework

notanewuser wrote: »

I don't think anyone can reclaim SSP any more.

Spot on..

No more reclaims for SSP.. as from 6/4/2014
I think you need to check out everything in your employees contracts, update them and update yourself on employers responsibilities and obligations.

Takeaway_Addict

TheTracker wrote: »

Always lovely to see heartwarming compassion at this time of year, it warms the cockles it does, nice and toasty warm.

Why don't you pay this unnecessary cost for the op then? Sometimes businesses can't show compassion even if they wanted to. The OP has made it clear that its running on a tight budget after digging it out of a hole from the previous employers.

Takeaway_Addict

cavework wrote: »

Spot on..

No more reclaims for SSP.. as from 6/4/2014
I think you need to check out everything in your employees contracts, update them and update yourself on employers responsibilities and obligations.

OP, get reading up on employee rights.

Mistral001

cavework wrote: »

Spot on..

No more reclaims for SSP.. as from 6/4/2014
.

Ah, I see. It is a few years since I employed someone, I am afraid.


BTW. Do you know if self-employed people can still claim SSP?

cavework

No, self employed pay class 2 NIC but may be able to claim ESA.
Only class 1 NIC covers SSP.
OP have you applied for the NIC employers allowance?