UK
You can get £96.35 per week Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) if you’re too ill to work. This payment is made by the employer for up to 28 weeks. To see if you can get more than the set amount from your employer you will need to check your employment contract to see if your employer is part of the sick pay scheme.
Agricultural workers’ sick pay rights are different.
Here is a guide for employers on Statutory Sick Pay 👇🏻
Overview if you cannot work due to COVID-19
You could get SSP if you’re self-isolating because:
- you or someone you live with has COVID-19 symptoms or has tested positive for COVID-19
- you’ve been notified by the NHS or public health authorities that you’ve been in contact with someone with COVID-19
- someone in your support bubble (or your ‘extended household’ if you live in Scotland or Wales) has COVID-19 symptoms or has tested positive for COVID-19
- you’ve been advised by a doctor or healthcare professional to self-isolate before going into hospital for surgery
You are entitled to SSP for every day you are off work. You cannot get SSP if you’re self-isolating after entering or returning to the UK and do not need to self-isolate for any other reason. If your illness is not related to COVID-19, you are entitled to SSP from the fourth day you are absent from work due to illness.
IRELAND
A new Statutory Sick Pay Scheme has been announced by the Irish Government. The scheme will introduce:
- Paid sick leave for up to 3 sick days in 2022. This is planned to increase to 5 days in 2023, 7 days in 2024 and 10 days in 2025.
- A rate of payment for statutory sick leave of 70% of normal wages to be paid by employers (up to a maximum €110 per day).
- A right for workers to take a complaint to the WRC where they are not provided with a company sick pay scheme.
To be entitled to paid sick leave under the new scheme, you must be working for your employer for at least 6 months. You will also need to be certified by a GP as unfit to work.
Legislation to bring the changes into effect is expected by the end of 2021.
Read below for your entitlement when the illness is due to COVID-19.
Employment rights during the COVID-19 restrictions.
Need more guidance? Get in touch with one of our advisors today for a free business consultation!
