Sick pay query

[Steven5]

Am I understanding this right?

does my employer have to pay minimum off 28 weeks ssp?

ive been off sick for about 15 weeks and the manager is telling me the company policy for ssp has changed to 10 weeks ssp.

on the government site I’ve noticed that the employer can pay you more than 28 weeks ssp but not less. Is this correct before I re approach her about it or am I just missing something?

thanks

[james_law]

Employers pay up to 28 weeks of Statutory Sick Pay. If they have a company sick pay policy they follow that and not statutory. They do however, have to pay you a minimum amount each week and can opt to pay you more if they choose. You need to check your contract if there is anything in there regarding sick pay.

I believe your entitled to 28 weeks from your employer but I'll tag someone who will know a lot more and will correct me if im wrong. SandraF

[Peridot]

This may help Stevens:https://www.gov.uk/statutory-sick-pay

[Steven5]

My manager has said the company sick pay is 10 weeks and I have used all it now. If I go sick from now it would be unpaid.

is not true then if the company sick pay lasts 10 weeks then after that would the government statutory one would kick in by the 11 week?

kind regards

steven

[james_law]

Are you entitled to ten weeks based on certain requirements or is that for everyone no matter how long they have worked for etc? Companies can decide the terms under which they pay company sick pay.

I dont need to know the figure but was the weekly pay more than £92.05 you recieved for the ten weeks?

As far as I can make (from legal research I have conducted) your employer can limit the duration of company sick pay(generally speaking but not always, company sick pay is more generous that statutory sick pay), however because SSP lasts up to 28, they would need to honour that and pay you up to that point at atleast the minimum payment of £92.05 a week.

Hope this helps.

[Steven5]

Hi James,

I think the 10 weeks is the same for everyone, but hopefully tomorrow I can get up to date copy of my contract and staff handbook and give you a more precise answer to your first question.

yes my weekly earnings figure works out to be more than 92.05 (£160 per week to be precise)

in on your experience if one uses up the 10 week company sick pay entitlement, does it get renewed again next financial year?

[james_law]

Again, you will have to look in your contract to find out all the terms and conditions, if any, of the company sick pay. I would assume that it would re new each year but you would need to check.

[ULA]

The terms of your contract will determine how the company deals with sick pay if you move from one sick pay year into another on the same period of sickness.

In regard to statutory sick pay, once you have exhausted your entitlement to company sick pay you should be paid in line with the current SSP rate of £92.05 per week up to 28 weeks of sickness.