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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think statutory sick pay is a joke

95 replies

Rainysummersday · 20/04/2018 18:01

I think sick pay is a basic right all workers should be entitled to. I agree workers should have to work for a minimum period before getting it, but it’s shocking some big companies only pay statutory in 2018. Do they want people to come in vomiting as they need to pay the rent?

Statutory sick pay is only about £92 a week and you have to be off for four days in a row to get anything. I very rarely take days off sick, and when I have it’s because I have no choice and aim to return to work as soon as possible. Penalising hard workers for something out of their control (who wants to be sick?) is awful imo.

Yes there are some people who abuse the system, but it’s few and far between.

OP posts:
Whatshallidonowpeople · 20/04/2018 18:02

Well you could get a job with better benefits.

AnneLovesGilbert · 20/04/2018 18:02

YANBU. It’s awful.

19lottie82 · 20/04/2018 18:04

I agree with you in principle, but who would you expect to pay for it? Most small businesses couldn’t afford it. The government wouldn’t be able to afford it.

Unfortunately businesses are just that, and no one can force them to pay over the stat.

It makes sense to take benefits in to account (ie sick pay) when looking for a job, or to consider long term illness cover with a private insurer.

Morphene · 20/04/2018 18:08

Well you see the rules are written by the lucky....who don't realise that their health is not the result of their own super duper prowess....but the result of luck. They therefore make the rules on the basis that anyone stupid or lazy enough to fall ill probably deserves a shit life...doubly so for anyone with disabilities.

Everywhere you turn you will find people proudly proclaiming that they've never had a day off sick in their lives, as if a robust immune system and a lack of genetic propensity for any specific cancer is the result of some specific virtue on their part. Even your OP has a little whiff of it...

19lottie82 · 20/04/2018 18:13

Well you see the rules are written by the lucky.

What a lot of nonsense. Hmm

Jessikita · 20/04/2018 18:16

My husband is a small employer. He employs 4 people. He could not afford to pay full sick pay even if he wanted too.

He does the best he can, when I be of his employees sister was killed, he paid 3 days off plus funeral, but he genuinely couldn’t afford anymore.

Original poster
Rainysummersday · 20/04/2018 18:16

I didn’t mean to come off like that @Morphene. I just mean I think most people are like me, and hate taking days off sick unless they have no choice. People can’t help being sick!

OP posts:
Original poster
Rainysummersday · 20/04/2018 18:17

I know it’s hard for small companies @Jessikita, but there are some huge companies and retail chains who refuse to pay sick pay and I think that’s shocking.

OP posts:
ScreamingValenta · 20/04/2018 18:19

I agree with you, OP. It shouldn't necessarily have to be the full wage you'd earn, but it should be equivalent at least to the minimum wage for the number of hours you have missed.

19lottie82 · 20/04/2018 18:33

Screaming who would you suggest pays for it?

Meandyouandyouandme · 20/04/2018 18:34

There’s a good reason why private companies don’t pay sick pay and it’s because people take the piss. Sick days in the private sector are lower than the public sector and it’s not because people are healthier in the private sector, it’s because they won’t get paid.
There’s no sick pay where I work, hardly anyone is ill, and if they are they take holidays to cover it.

RunMummyRun68 · 20/04/2018 18:35

yes who should pay?

ScreamingValenta · 20/04/2018 18:35

lottie The employer, as with occupational sick pay.

EightdaysaweekIloveu · 20/04/2018 18:38

*19lottie82

I agree with you in principle, but who would you expect to pay for it? Most small businesses couldn’t afford it. The government wouldn’t be able to afford it. *

This! Who do you think should pay? Some businesses are not bottomless pits.

NewYearNewMe18 · 20/04/2018 18:39

Why doesn't the employee take out a sickness insurance policy in the same ways a self employed person would have to?

Small business cannot afford to incur costs - and you're all going to say, well the small business could take out a policy - they could indeed, but then that would cut the profit margin and slice into employees standard pay rates.

EightdaysaweekIloveu · 20/04/2018 18:40

screaming. That is a very naive approach.

Jessikita · 20/04/2018 18:41

It’s a tough one as I spent 10 years working in local government and the 6 months full pay and 6 months half pay plus SSP was quite clearly abused!

I worked for Asda for a time and they paid 8 weeks full pay and that seemed like a balanced amount.

ScreamingValenta · 20/04/2018 18:41

EightdaysaweekIloveu In what way?

BakedBeans47 · 20/04/2018 18:43

It is shit but a lot of employers just can’t afford to pay more.

As for large retailers I would hazard a guess a lot of them have poor attendance which may well only get worse if they bring in sick pay.

It’s crap though x I do sympathise

19lottie82 · 20/04/2018 18:47

The employer, as with occupational sick pay.

Really? How would they afford that? And as knock on effect how many small companies do you think would go bust, and then, how many people would lose their jobs?

I don’t mean to be rude but you’re seriously living in la la land if you think that’s a realistic suggestion!

ScreamingValenta · 20/04/2018 18:52

I see what you are saying, Lottie but how is a company going bust any worse than an individual, say, losing their home because their SSP isn't sufficient to cover their bills?

A pp mentioned insurance - why should the onus be on the employee to take out insurance? Why would the company not be obliged to do this, if their reserves didn't cover reasonable sick pay?

somewhereovertherain · 20/04/2018 18:53

Why should I pay for people not to turn up to work. For me the public’s sector and NHS should slash and burn their sick pay. Far too many people take the piss.

ScreamingValenta · 20/04/2018 18:57

Why should I pay for people not to turn up to work.

What are you saying - that all forms of paid leave should be abolished - maternity leave, holidays etc.?

19lottie82 · 20/04/2018 18:58

how is a company going bust any worse than an individual, say, losing their home because their SSP isn't sufficient to cover their bills?

Hmm individual = 1 person
Company = more than one person

You are very, very naive screaming

BritInUS1 · 20/04/2018 19:00

Unfortunately in my experience many employees are not like you and take advantage of paid sick pay. This can hit small companies really hard as they try and cover work.