Employer and SSP

peskywabbit

On Tuesday of this week my boss rang me to say that the office was to close for 10 days and that I was to self isolate for that time.  The Thursday before two staff members tested positive for Covid, I was off Thursday and Friday of that week but went in to work this Monday.  I don't have and haven't had Covid and am testing negative every day so far.

I am not fully able to work from home, I am a secretary but also a Receptionist so although I could do my secretarial work, I can't answer the phones.  Two members of staff have chosen to stay at work so I believe I have a right to do the same.

I assumed I would be off with full pay as I am not sick and it's not my choice to be off.  Today though a colleague who does have Covid had been told that she is only being paid SSP so I asked my boss about my salary.  He has told me that I will get full pay for the 1st three days off then SSP for the remaining 7 days.  I'm not off sick and could go to work as a couple of my colleagues are.  Is my employer allowed to put me on SSP? 

I've been advised that there is a grant available to people who are on SSP but apparently you need a Track and Trace number to be able to claim this, however I don't have Track and Trace so don't think I could claim.

Jeremy535897

How can two colleagues choose to stay at work if the office is closed?

MalMonroe

Most businesses have an option to divert telephone calls, couldn't your employer do that? Then you could certainly do all your work from home. 

I don't think you should be claiming sick leave if you are not sick. SSP is a benefit, so taking government money when your boss should be paying you himself. If there is a grant available for people who are on SSP then that is for people who cannot work because they are ill. But that isn't you. Your employee is trying to fiddle the system and it's not right.

Why not contact Acas? They can give you advice about all employment issues, including dodgy bosses. 

https://www.acas.org.uk/contact

Jeremy535897

See: https://www.bdbf.co.uk/coronavirus-and-the-workplace-twelve-key-questions/

"Not unwell, self-isolating because of employer’s advice

If you have instructed an employee to self-isolate, then the employee should be paid their normal pay (not sick pay).  This is because they are complying with your instructions."

comeandgo

MalMonroe said:

Most businesses have an option to divert telephone calls, couldn't your employer do that? Then you could certainly do all your work from home. 

I don't think you should be claiming sick leave if you are not sick. SSP is a benefit, so taking government money when your boss should be paying you himself. If there is a grant available for people who are on SSP then that is for people who cannot work because they are ill. But that isn't you. Your employee is trying to fiddle the system and it's not right.

Why not contact Acas? They can give you advice about all employment issues, including dodgy bosses. 

https://www.acas.org.uk/contact

SSP is paid by employers not government.

sheramber

comeandgo said:

MalMonroe said:

Most businesses have an option to divert telephone calls, couldn't your employer do that? Then you could certainly do all your work from home. 

I don't think you should be claiming sick leave if you are not sick. SSP is a benefit, so taking government money when your boss should be paying you himself. If there is a grant available for people who are on SSP then that is for people who cannot work because they are ill. But that isn't you. Your employee is trying to fiddle the system and it's not right.

Why not contact Acas? They can give you advice about all employment issues, including dodgy bosses. 

https://www.acas.org.uk/contact

SSP is paid by employers not government.

And the employer can claim it back from the Government

Jeremy535897

sheramber said:

comeandgo said:

MalMonroe said:

Most businesses have an option to divert telephone calls, couldn't your employer do that? Then you could certainly do all your work from home. 

I don't think you should be claiming sick leave if you are not sick. SSP is a benefit, so taking government money when your boss should be paying you himself. If there is a grant available for people who are on SSP then that is for people who cannot work because they are ill. But that isn't you. Your employee is trying to fiddle the system and it's not right.

Why not contact Acas? They can give you advice about all employment issues, including dodgy bosses. 

https://www.acas.org.uk/contact

SSP is paid by employers not government.

And the employer can claim it back from the Government

In restricted circumstances:

Reclaiming SSP

You can reclaim up to 2 weeks’ SSP if all of the following apply:

• your employee was off work because they had COVID-19 or were self-isolating
• your employee was off work because they were shielding - before 26 April 2021 in Scotland, before 12 April 2021 in Northern Ireland and before 1 April 2021 in England and Wales
• your PAYE payroll scheme started on or before 28 February 2020
• you had fewer than 250 employees on 28 February 2020

You can reclaim up to £96.35 a week for each employee.

You cannot reclaim SSP if your employee is off sick for any other reason.

JCS1

MalMonroe said:

Most businesses have an option to divert telephone calls, couldn't your employer do that? Then you could certainly do all your work from home. 

I don't think you should be claiming sick leave if you are not sick. SSP is a benefit, so taking government money when your boss should be paying you himself. If there is a grant available for people who are on SSP then that is for people who cannot work because they are ill. But that isn't you. Your employee is trying to fiddle the system and it's not right.

Why not contact Acas? They can give you advice about all employment issues, including dodgy bosses. 

https://www.acas.org.uk/contact

SSP is only able to be reclaimed from the government in limited cases, it was changed a long while ago.