We are currently reviewing our policy on sick pay. At the moment we only offer SSP, but in some instances have paid people at the line manager's discretion. I would love to hear from others as to how your company handles sick pay. Do you have a set amount of days that get paid and after it's discretionary? Only SSP across the board? Would love some information.
Thanks!
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Replies
Hi Denise,
I'll use an example from a previous place of work - where there is a weekly paid population and monthly paid population that receive different contractual company sick pay (CSP) benefits.
Monthly paid:
- first year of service - up to 6 weeks company sick pay (top up to full pay) in a rolling 12 month period
- second year of service and above - 13 weeks as above
Weekly paid:
- up to 1 year service - SSP only
- 1-2 year's service - max 4 weeks full pay in a rolling 12 month period
- 2-3 year's service - max 8 weeks full pay in a rolling 12 month period
- 3 year's plus - max 13 weeks full pay in a rolling 12 month period
However, the first 3 days are unpaid and the 4th day is paid at SSP only. CSP begins from the 5th day of absence.
Sick pay is paid at company discretion, in addition to SSP, and only paid if the appropriate medical certification is provided. If an employee is on a high level of disciplinary for absence, their entitlement to CSP ceases until the warning expires. The length of CSP is only extended in exceptional circumstances. Also, at company discretion, allow employees to use CSP to top up their pay if they are on a phased return to work to avoid them hitting a financial barrier in returning to work and to ease them back into their normal contractual role.
I would advice to consider your policy carefully, and the workforce you have, as a small minority may see it as an extra annual entitlement and take the full entitlement or near to regularly! It depends on the type of culture you have in the business.
Other things to consider:
- sick pay and booked holidays
- approach to EU or international medical certificates
Hope that helps.
Richard.
Thank you Richard - yes, very helpful!