Page 3 | New job only offering SSP

Lyns18 · 2022-09-28T06:08:42+00:00

I have been offered a new job. The reason I applied was the hours were better and it's alternate Saturdays as opposed to every Saturday. I got the job offer letter but they only offer SSP. My current job is 90% pay for 6 weeks and then 50% for 6 weeks but no pay for first 3 days. I am a healthcare professional. My current job is with a larger company and the new job with a smaller business although they have gone into Partnership with a larger group recently. Is this the norm now to be offered SSP? AiBU to expect a better sick pay package as a professional? I have a mortgage and two kids. We have critical illness cover with our mortgage but this would only cover more substantial illness I think. It's the real sticking point for me.

CliffordMystery · 28/09/2022 10:07

Yes I thought sick pay was normal too!

From my experience it’s just that each has their pros and cons. There are many potentially nice things about working for an independent, but you don’t have the “protection” you would be used to in a large company.

With a big company you’ve got all the HR department etc and you know you will always get what you’re entitled to. Also they will have a higher management structure which often seems like a bad thing, but it does mean there are extra levels of accountability rather than all the decisions being based on the whim of the owner at the time! On the plus side, you feel less like you’re working on a production line though!

evilharpy · 28/09/2022 10:17

I'm private sector with full sick pay from day 1 and a decent pension by today's standards (not defined benefit sadly but fairly generous). I'm not often sick at all but around last August/September I developed a condition that kept me fully off for about a month, then back on short hours till I had surgery in January, then off for six weeks to recover (and back full time since late Feb with no sick days since). If I'd been on SSP that would have been crippling, but was completely unavoidable.

Husband is also private sector and fairly senior but on SSP only. He is never sick (think he's had about three days off in the 18 years I've known him), but you just never know what's around the corner. He's the bigger earner by some margin and even though we have savings, it would be very worrying if it was something long term. His company also only offer the bare minimum auto enrolment pension and didn't have a company pension scheme or any matching at all until it became mandatory.

If and when I change jobs I wouldn't even consider anywhere that didn't offer sick pay, decent pension and ideally private healthcare (without which I would still be off work now because the waiting list is so long).

MidnightEagle · 28/09/2022 10:40

evilharpy · 28/09/2022 10:17

I'm private sector with full sick pay from day 1 and a decent pension by today's standards (not defined benefit sadly but fairly generous). I'm not often sick at all but around last August/September I developed a condition that kept me fully off for about a month, then back on short hours till I had surgery in January, then off for six weeks to recover (and back full time since late Feb with no sick days since). If I'd been on SSP that would have been crippling, but was completely unavoidable.

Husband is also private sector and fairly senior but on SSP only. He is never sick (think he's had about three days off in the 18 years I've known him), but you just never know what's around the corner. He's the bigger earner by some margin and even though we have savings, it would be very worrying if it was something long term. His company also only offer the bare minimum auto enrolment pension and didn't have a company pension scheme or any matching at all until it became mandatory.

If and when I change jobs I wouldn't even consider anywhere that didn't offer sick pay, decent pension and ideally private healthcare (without which I would still be off work now because the waiting list is so long).

Yes I would be losing my private healthcare too which is another worry especially in the current times! They haven't given me any details of the pension yet but I suspect it won't be very good although the one I have at the minute isn't very good either so that might not be a make or break.

averageavocado · 28/09/2022 10:43

Explaintome · 28/09/2022 07:19

It would have to be really much better terms in every other way for me to take the job. You don't actually need to be that ill to need 6 weeks off.

I'd tell them why I won't work for such a poor employer too. It won't help for you but hopefully if firms can't recruit because of it they

I've only had more than a week off at a time once, and that was with hospitalised pneumonia

You do have to be pretty ill to need 6 weeks off!!

MidnightEagle · 28/09/2022 10:44

@CliffordMystery the independent has recently gone into partnership with a larger group so they now have a HR department etc. Seems disappointing that they don't have better terms.

MereDintofPandiculation · 28/09/2022 10:45

We have critical illness cover with our mortgage but this would only cover more substantial illness I think Have you looked at income protection insurance? Work out how long you could afford to be on SSP and cost up income protection insurance that kicks in after that.

MidnightEagle · 28/09/2022 10:54

MereDintofPandiculation · 28/09/2022 10:45

We have critical illness cover with our mortgage but this would only cover more substantial illness I think Have you looked at income protection insurance? Work out how long you could afford to be on SSP and cost up income protection insurance that kicks in after that.

Thank you. A PP mentioned this also so I have just contacted the insurance company and I don't currently have that just CIC so they are going to ring me back with a quote to add it on.

Explaintome · 28/09/2022 12:55

averageavocado · 28/09/2022 10:43

I've only had more than a week off at a time once, and that was with hospitalised pneumonia

You do have to be pretty ill to need 6 weeks off!!

Show quote history

Broken leg? Hysterectomy? Pretty much any surgery not done by keyhole? Bereavement or other MH issue? Glandular Fever?

All serious, but not what anyone would consider desperately ill or very unusual.

Redqueenheart · 28/09/2022 13:10

''@OriginalUsername3 ·
We only do SSP because we got bloody sick of people taking the piss.''

Nice to see people who develop cancer, have accidents, have long term health conditions and disabilities that make them more vulnerable to illness and those who might require major surgery described as ''taking the piss''.

And some employers wonder why they can't get and keep good staff...

SeasonFinale · 28/09/2022 13:15

People in the public sector who complain about their pay don't realise that the reason private sector employees are paid more is because they don't have the benefit of public sector pensions and sick pay etc. Those saying they would leave or move I would really like to know where to when the market is what dictates the additional package.

PinkiOcelot · 28/09/2022 13:23

I really don’t think anyone would refer to those listed as taking the piss!
I have worked with someone for just over a year. She hasn’t worked 2 full weeks in a row yet! She’s never just off for a week, or even 2. Her sick always stretches for weeks. That’s taking the piss! 6 months full pay so able to!

MidnightEagle · 28/09/2022 20:15

Thanks everyone. I'm truly grateful for the variety of opinions. Think I might have been a bit naive about the enhanced sick pay! I contacted my new prospective employer to explain my concerns but he assured me the SSP stipulation was a mistake and the sick pay is the same as I am on.