Sick pay - what's normal in the charitable sector?

AvocadosBeforeMortgages

I've just had a job offer through for a professional full time permanent role with a well known national charity. The pay is good (noticeable pay rise) but the contract says they don't pay anything beyond SSP if you're unwell - and SSP is a pittance.

This will be my first time working in the charitable sector after a career across the private and public sectors, and it's the first time I've been offered a role where there's no occupational sick pay. I've no plans to go sick (not been off in over 2 years, even for a single day) but having had a cancer scare once I'm well aware that things can go wrong for anyone (and the job involves long distance driving, so there's a higher than average chance of a crash that injures me and requires time off).

Is this the norm in the charitable sector, and should I be taking out some form of insurance to ensure that I can keep paying the rent etc. if something major did happen?

gingerdad

its norm across lots of businesses - we only pay SSP - found to many people take the !!!! on a better sick pay scheme so everyone looses

NeilCr

I worked for a charity for a while and that was their policy. I'd imagine it is often the norm - money is going to be very tight.

Malthusian

Perfectly normal in any industry. Speak to an Independent Financial Adviser about putting an Income Protection policy in place.

If you're moving jobs, deduct the cost of the Income Protection policy when you're weighing up your old and new salaries.

TELLIT01

SSP only seems to be more and more common these days, not just in the charity sector.

Poppy1984

Yes its the norm, they often don't pay maternity pay either

ACG

Malthusian wrote: »

Perfectly normal in any industry. Speak to an Independent Financial Adviser about putting an Income Protection policy in place.

If you're moving jobs, deduct the cost of the Income Protection policy when you're weighing up your old and new salaries.

I do not know the answer, but I was going to suggest some of the pay rise could be put towards a PHI policy.

You do not need to cover your pay in its entirety (that is not allowed anyway), but you might be able to cover say half of it or even enough to pay the bills.

General_Grant

Poppy1984 wrote: »

Yes its the norm, they often don't pay maternity pay either

Do you mean there are employers who do not pay statutory maternity pay?

elsien

I've always worked in the voluntary sector with national organisations. Years ago the sick pay was quite generous but it's been cut back over the years. Never worked for an organisation that only pays SSP although it obviously depends on length of service. I think my current place is 2 months full pay, 4 months half pay but you have to have been there donkeys years to get that.
I'd always look at income replacement anyway.

Savvy_Sue

Poppy1984 wrote: »

Yes its the norm, they often don't pay maternity pay either

they may not pay ENHANCED maternity pay, but they'll be paying SMP.

Small charity I work for is a sliding scale, starts at 2 weeks' full followed by 2 weeks' half. Nothing but SSP would give me pause too: I've had two extended periods (in nearly 20 years) which required phased returns, and last year I was floored by a cough / chest infection / proper lurgy.

the Income Protection Plan sounds like a good alternative but read the small print.

Poppy1984

General_Grant wrote: »

Do you mean there are employers who do not pay statutory maternity pay?

Sorry I meant don't pay maternity pay which is above statutory