Job offer but no company sick pay

briskbeats

I would avoid companies paying only SSP. I have a couple of medical issues which will require surgery in the next few years. Though some pay SSP for the first 6 months - year of employment, which I can cope. 

jonnybravo147

Adding up a week off sick, extra pension contributions, accident and sickness income protection insurance and higher rent, I'll still be up on salary.

I've had assurances on work life balance, hybrid working, etc and willing to take a chance especially with the increased cost of living we're all facing. 

So I've decided to take the job.

Thanks for all the replies and advice!

lisyloo

It really up to you, but I would weigh up the entire package.
the work, work/life balance, skills, o/T expected.

i have statutory minimum but it’s a tiny company so nothing out of order and the whole package including the salary makes up for it.

you need to look at the entire package.

concerneduk2020

I’ve turned down roles because they only offer SSP. For me it comes down to two things risk and company culture. I’m pretty risk averse, if I broke my arm and couldn’t use a computer for several weeks I want to know I’ll be able to pay my bills. Company culture is important to me too, so having a benefits package that allows people to call in sick when they are ill is part of that. Saying that my current job has great benefits and culture in general, but you can still get individual managers who suggest you ‘try to do what you can’ when you call out sick. 

Like others have said look at the whole package, add financial values to taking X number of sick days a year, the number of holiday days etc. Sometimes it becomes clear that when you add it all up that the increased salary is not worth it. 

If you’re not happy don’t settle. It’s a candidate’s market at the moment so if there was ever a time to hold out for what you want, this is it.

Smithcom

concerneduk2020 said:

I’ve turned down roles because they only offer SSP. For me it comes down to two things risk and company culture. I’m pretty risk averse, if I broke my arm and couldn’t use a computer for several weeks I want to know I’ll be able to pay my bills. Company culture is important to me too, so having a benefits package that allows people to call in sick when they are ill is part of that. Saying that my current job has great benefits and culture in general, but you can still get individual managers who suggest you ‘try to do what you can’ when you call out sick. 

Like others have said look at the whole package, add financial values to taking X number of sick days a year, the number of holiday days etc. Sometimes it becomes clear that when you add it all up that the increased salary is not worth it. 

If you’re not happy don’t settle. It’s a candidate’s market at the moment so if there was ever a time to hold out for what you want, this is it.

There are few employers who offer open-ended sick pay.  

Many employers will pay discretionary sick pay, meaning that they have some control over employee sick days.

concerneduk2020

Smithcom said:

concerneduk2020 said:

I’ve turned down roles because they only offer SSP. For me it comes down to two things risk and company culture. I’m pretty risk averse, if I broke my arm and couldn’t use a computer for several weeks I want to know I’ll be able to pay my bills. Company culture is important to me too, so having a benefits package that allows people to call in sick when they are ill is part of that. Saying that my current job has great benefits and culture in general, but you can still get individual managers who suggest you ‘try to do what you can’ when you call out sick. 

Like others have said look at the whole package, add financial values to taking X number of sick days a year, the number of holiday days etc. Sometimes it becomes clear that when you add it all up that the increased salary is not worth it. 

If you’re not happy don’t settle. It’s a candidate’s market at the moment so if there was ever a time to hold out for what you want, this is it.

There are few employers who offer open-ended sick pay.  

Many employers will pay discretionary sick pay, meaning that they have some control over employee sick days.

True but there’s a difference between discretionary and not offering it at all. For me a company that doesn’t offer anything is a big red flag. That’s partly because in the industry I work in sick pay ranging from 6 to 13 weeks is a standard benefit. If an employer didn’t offer it I’d at least factor that in to my decision making process. Yes it’s unlikely to be open-ended but something is better than no company sick pay at all. 

happyc84

interesting discussion, depends what job sector your in.

Mine pays up 26 weeks full pay then 1/2 pay for another 26 weeks.

I suppose they retain their staff which is better all round.

Undervalued

happyc84 said:

interesting discussion, depends what job sector your in.

Mine pays up 26 weeks full pay then 1/2 pay for another 26 weeks.

I suppose they retain their staff which is better all round.

Such schemes were commonplace with certain employers in the past. However it is becoming unusual to offer such terms to new employees.

Smoulder80

Undervalued said:

happyc84 said:

interesting discussion, depends what job sector your in.

Mine pays up 26 weeks full pay then 1/2 pay for another 26 weeks.

I suppose they retain their staff which is better all round.

Such schemes were commonplace with certain employers in the past. However it is becoming unusual to offer such terms to new employees.

In my department of less than 20 over the past 2 years there have been 4 people on lts who miraculously are fit to return at the end of a scheme such as happyc84 has. 

Probably suggests why they are becoming a thing of the past, the few taking advantage to the detriment of the many.

Montgomery278

My employer offers most staff company sick pay; the standard 28 days full pay, but their lowest paid staff who get just above minimum hourly wage only get SSP regardless of how many years they've worked there. This is is a huge successful business BTW, not some small family firm.