...to think that probationary periods for new employees are just a great way for employers to take the p@@@

[WotchOotErAPolis]

I have to be off work for a week for surgery but have been told I'm not entitled to sick pay as I'm still in my probationary period. [It's six months, but I'm only 4 months through it].

I have put this on the AIBU thread as it's a whinge really - it's in their Ts & Cs that I don't get sick pay, but maybe I should have put off my surgery until after I've passed my probation then?! No wait - you do need surgery right now, not in another two months time, so lets dock your wages while we're at it just to help you feel better.

Seems like employers are taking us for a ride as they can pretty much do what they like while there are so many people chasing jobs. They say 'jump' we all say 'how high?'.

Can you not get statutory sick pay? As an employer I'm pleased this is the law to be honest....could potentially put me under if I hired someone who suddenly got very sick.

Everyone is entitled to Statutory Sick pay. It's not a huge amount but its something

Some of us don't ever get more than that. Companies are cutting down on offering full sick pay as costs have to be cut to survive.

www.gov.uk/statutory-sick-pay/overview

Very few small companies pay above statutory sick pay.

Always had probationary periods where I have worked. It gives both sides a chance to see if the person and the job suits.

One place I worked did pay sick pay during probation and so many people took the p@@s (not saying you are).

Probationary periods have been a god-send at my current organisation, as it's meant I have not had to go through months of performance management to get rid of someone who came across brilliantly at assessment centre/interview and then turned out to be a nightmare.

Probationary periods are good. You agreed to the T & C's, can't complain now. That's the way the cookie crumbles.

YABU

You can't tell how anyone will be without trying them out. Probationary periods are essential.

Yabu

Claim SSP, why would an employer pay someone full sick pay with maybe a few weeks service under their belt? I have 7 years service with my company without a day off sick until I had 2 ops last year, I got paid 5 days full pay and took the rest as hol as I couldn't afford ssp. I don't think it would be fair to pay someone with 2 weeks service the same sick pay as someone with years under their belt

Not arguing with probationary periods in general, but six months ?!? What happened to three?

Lots of places are six months. Don't think I've ever worked anywhere it is less than six months.

At my work its 3 but I extend it if there's any concerns up to a maximum of 12 months, extended it to 6 a couple of times but never more

I know it's harsh but even if you weren't on a probationary period a lot of places now just don't do sick pay full stop. My DH has been with his company 18yrs and only received SSP - it's crap but it's just been abused in the past.
On the otherhand I do think these extra lengthy probationary periods are a bit of a nightmare for employees/job hunters and are slightly misused by some companies to cover busy times with no intention of keeping everyone on.
I would love to look for another job but cannot leave a secure, permanent position to go elsewhere when I might not be kept on past the probationary period (even IF I do fulfil the job role)

It's 8 months in my company. During probation you don't get paid for the first day off sick. Recently worked somewhere where all employees only got SSP for the first 3 days of sickness.

Could you use annual leave if you want to be paid?

I don't think it's unreasonable that someone with short service doesn't get occupational sick pay. At 4 months in you're a net drain on the company - they've paid for recruitment, training, the cost of personnel admin to bring you in and you will have been less productive than an experienced employee. Now you are going to be off work too. It's not your fault, but it's not the company's fault either.

I don't get sick pay anyway, even though I've been there 8 years. Just ssp.

YABU, although to be fair there's not much point in a probationary period anyway coz there's next to nothing an employee can do if they get sacked before being there 2 years.

MorphineDreams
YABU, although to be fair there's not much point in a probationary period anyway coz there's next to nothing an employee can do if they get sacked before being there 2 years.

Yes this is true. Probationary periods have no meaning since employers able to dismiss for any reason within first two years. Odd how many people are not aware of this - it's something I always emphasise to people thinking about changing jobs.

I got caught out with it once, I could have took them to the cleaners had I been there 3 months longer. I wasn't aware of it at all, think it's something few people are.

I know someone who works for a company who pays full pay for up to 10 days of sickness.

Most employees at that company are 'ill' 10 days each year.
They treat it as additional annual leave.

I've never had a job that pays sick pay. Ever. And I've had lots of jobs and I am 34. I think it's incredibly rare (and I've had some very senior positions).

I hope your surgery goes well op but I don't think your employer is being unfair.

I had one that paid sick pay, but they complained if you were actually sick

It does seem very very rare though now. It was only the office staff who got it in my place.

I've worked for 4 major employers in 15 years. All have paid sick pay although nothing more than SSP in the "probationary period". All have paid full pay for six months and then varying degrees of pay for the following six months. 3 employers were private sector, 1 was public sector. The 3 private sector employers also has other excellent benefits such as enhanced maternity leave, a bonus for coming back to work after maternity leave, employee share schemes, bonuses, paid Christmas parties etc. I didn't think I'd been spectacularly lucky but it seems so?

Probationary periods are good. You agreed to the T & C's, can't complain now. That's the way the cookie crumbles.

Yes, I'm sure OP and her employer sat down together and fairly agreed on a contract that worked for both of them.

Most people HAVE to take jobs because they need to pay the bills. There's not really much space for bargaining. You could justify pretty much any form of exploitation with "that's the way the cookie crumbles".

FWIW, I can see why employers would need probationary periods, but I think that half a year is too long to expect someone not to get sick. It goes beyond what I think should reasonably be considered as 'probationary'.

And the fact that some people get no sick pay ever doesn't justify it, it just means that the problem is even worse in the big picture.

YABU, the probationary period serves to protect employees and employers. Of course a company doesn't want to be paying sick pay to someone who hasn't put the time in. Everyone is entitled to statutory sick pay anyway aren't they?

I do think your employer is very unreasonable though, 6 months is excessive and very unfair. If an illness presented itself within 3 months then it could be argued that the employee took the job knowing that they would have to take time off. But 6 months! An illness could begin and get worse within that time making it impossible not to take the time off. Your employer doesn't sound like they have your best interests at heart.

I think 6 months probation for important jobs is sensible. I've always had it. I've generally come across it for highly paid jobs though and then it's a mutual assessment thing and gives both parties a chance to see how well they fit in.
It gives you an idea of someone's attitude to their job, are they a clockwatcher who does the bare minimum or do they seem to enjoy their job and want to contribute.
re sick pay if it's a one off operation you need then it seems short sighted of your employer to be churlish about it. On the other hand someone who made a habit of Monday sickies and saw their sickness days as an "allowance" like their holidays wouldn't make it past 6 months.
If your employer wants to keep you and you generally have a good attitude to your job it's a shame they're not more generous with your surgery.