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SICK PAY
SICK PAY
Employers are only required to pay statutory sick pay (SSP) if the employee is absent because of sickness for a continuous period of four days or more. If the employee is absent for less than four consecutive days then they are not entitled to SSP. Employers must keep records of payments and absences in excess of four consecutive days. Employees may not claim SSP for more than 28 weeks in each period of sickness absence.
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Most employees qualify for SSP. If the employee is not entitled to SSP then they may be able to claim incapacity benefit instead. However, this claim is made via the Government and not via the company, albeit the company may be asked to provide certain information in respect of the employee's claim.
It is possible for an employer to pay more than just SSP in the form of occupational or contractual sick pay. The specific sick pay terms would be set out in each employee’s contract of employment.
