NHS covid sickness pay

hulkgti

Hi, I'm currently SI due to being covd pos. Caught it from work (clinical NHS). I only work weekends so I usuallyget lots of pay enhancements. My colleagues just told me they only got basic pay for covid sickness. Is this correct? I'm going to be hundreds of pounds down if this is the case. I was hoping to take all the time I needed to recover, but I can't afford to stay off on basic pay. Can anyone confirm please?

Jeremy535897

It depends on the terms in your contract of employment, but I would be surprised if you find a different answer in it.

hulkgti

"Normal" sickness is basic pay only. There won't be anything about covid sickness pay in our contracts as it wasn't a thing back then.

Andy_L

Generally:

"Occupational sick and contractual maternity pay

2.13 From 1 July 2018, for the purposes of occupational sick pay, unsocial hours payments will not be payable during sickness absences for:

• staff who first started their employment under the terms of this handbook on or after 1 July 2018.
• staff whose basic pay is above £18,160 (regardless of the start date of their employment).

Unsocial hours payments will be payable during sickness absence for:

• Ambulance staff employed prior to 1 September 2018, who choose to remain on annex 5 and 6;
• staff who were employed under the terms of this handbook, as at 30 June 2018, and have a basic salary of £18,160 or less, and
• those absent due to injuries, diseases or other health conditions sustained or contracted in the discharge of their duties of employment, (see paragraph 14.7 in section 14 (England) and who are not in receipt of injury allowance."

https://www.nhsemployers.org/publications/tchandbook

Specific covid guidance

"What should an organisation pay a substantive member of staff who needs to self-isolate?

They should be recorded on the Electronic Staff Record (ESR) as special leave for infection precaution or medical suspension purposes and receive full pay, inclusive of any enhancements. Under the related reason field, coronavirus (COVID-19) would need to be selected."

https://www.nhsemployers.org/articles/covid-19-pay-faqs

hulkgti

Andy_L said:

Generally:

"Occupational sick and contractual maternity pay

2.13 From 1 July 2018, for the purposes of occupational sick pay, unsocial hours payments will not be payable during sickness absences for:

• staff who first started their employment under the terms of this handbook on or after 1 July 2018.
• staff whose basic pay is above £18,160 (regardless of the start date of their employment).

Unsocial hours payments will be payable during sickness absence for:

• Ambulance staff employed prior to 1 September 2018, who choose to remain on annex 5 and 6;
• staff who were employed under the terms of this handbook, as at 30 June 2018, and have a basic salary of £18,160 or less, and
• those absent due to injuries, diseases or other health conditions sustained or contracted in the discharge of their duties of employment, (see paragraph 14.7 in section 14 (England) and who are not in receipt of injury allowance."

https://www.nhsemployers.org/publications/tchandbook

Specific covid guidance

"What should an organisation pay a substantive member of staff who needs to self-isolate?

They should be recorded on the Electronic Staff Record (ESR) as special leave for infection precaution or medical suspension purposes and receive full pay, inclusive of any enhancements. Under the related reason field, coronavirus (COVID-19) would need to be selected."

https://www.nhsemployers.org/articles/covid-19-pay-faqs

Yes, this is the only thing that I read, so that's why I thought we would get full pay with enhancements. It seems that has not been happening though.

elsien

So has anyone previous in the situation pointed that guidance out and asked why it’s not being met? 

hulkgti

No idea, but I will be pointing it out. Many of them are still suffering and just trying to function as well as look after kids & drag themselves back to work, so I doubt they've had time or energy yet. I have just emailed HR. Thank you.

NCC1701-A

I suspect the problem will be proving you caught it at work.

Presumably you wore the correct PPE during all patient contact?