Cleaner - how long for sick pay?

[Libre2]

So ethical dilemma. We have a cleaner who we have had for years. Usually when she is on holiday or sick we just keep her pay going into her account as it’s only a week or two. We also kept her on full pay for the whole time over lockdown. Now however, very sadly she has been taken quite seriously ill and the recovery is going to be a long time. I am not actually sure will ever work again. She has cancer but is extremely overweight and has quite a lot of ongoing issues so I imagine the recovery is going to be complicated from what her daughter told me. So, how long do I keep her money going in for? I don’t feel we can do it indefinitely. Would a month be reasonable?

Are you treating your cleaner as employed for tax purposes, ie subject to PAYE, pension rights, NIC etc? If not I'd be cautious about offering sick pay. Would you pay a contractor who didn't come (due to sickness or otherwise?).

No, we’re not - she’s very much self-employed but I don’t think she has a lot of other jobs or a lot of money coming in.

Give 1 month notice. It's really sad but it's not right you continue to pay her and have to find and pay a new cleaner also.

I think if you gave her 1 month that would be really nice of you. Sad situation but nothing more you can do.