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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think 10 days paid sick leave a year is not very much?

144 replies

patandjess · 06/10/2023 21:57

I’ve been offered a job that gives 10 days paid sick leave a year, then after that you’re on statutory sick pay (£109 a week as far as I can tell).

It’s a senior role in a creative industry.

Is this usual? I’ve been self-employed for a long time so forgive my ignorance. What happens if someone gets a serious illness or is signed off with e.g. stress? Do they have to live on £109 a week?

I had Covid at the beginning of the year and was ill for over a week, so that would have been about 6 days. Then a few other illnesses dotted throughout the year and there goes your 10 days.

Curious to know what other workplaces offer and whether this is usual or not.

OP posts:
Original poster
patandjess · 06/10/2023 21:59

(I should have said that I’m asking if this is usual for this sort of role and seniority. I understand that many employed people don’t get any paid sick days at all.)

OP posts:
SquashPenguin · 06/10/2023 22:00

Some people would treat that as an extra 10 days annual leave every year, except they don’t have to give any notice for it.

Its not the norm no, I think that’s incredibly generous.

Temporaryname158 · 06/10/2023 22:00

I’m not in your industry but I get 6 months full pay and 6 months half pay.

that’s said I’ve had 2 days off in the last 4 years so would have been perfectly fine at the levels you mention

IsNowTheTime · 06/10/2023 22:02

Ten days more then I get

Timmytap18 · 06/10/2023 22:03

Mine is much much more than that so yeah its pretty shitty. That being said some people get nothing and go straight on to SSP so I suppose it's all relative.

WarningOfGails · 06/10/2023 22:03

I work for a small charity, we have 8 weeks full pay sick pay in 12 months.

Beachwalker66 · 06/10/2023 22:03

I get six months full pay then six months half pay. I thought that was standard outside of minimum wage jobs…

mynameiscalypso · 06/10/2023 22:04

I work for a charity. I think under 2 years service, it's just SSP. After 2 years, it's 4 weeks I think. My previous employer was 6 months fully paid in every 12 months. Sigh.

Boomboom22 · 06/10/2023 22:04

Very poor, I think I get 6 months full then six months half pay before ssp.

Ollybob · 06/10/2023 22:04

I get nothing apart from statutory sick pay, can't afford to take a day off even if I wanted to.
Pretty sure a lot of people are in the same boat too.
10 days is quite good really.

Shakespearessisterinlaw · 06/10/2023 22:04

It's very stingy. It's not generous at all @SquashPenguin

There are those who get SSP only, but that is awful and ethically wrong in my view. 10 days is not THAT much better.

catgirl1976 · 06/10/2023 22:04

Pretty standard in the private sector tbh. I think I might have got three weeks in one role after x years of service

Now I’m in the public sector and get six months full and six months half having over five years of service. But the pay rises are tiny compared with what I got in the public sector so swings and roundabouts

LoveBluey · 06/10/2023 22:05

I think it's pretty shit. My old job was 6 months full pay and my new one is 5 days. One of many benefits that is much worse in new job.

MidnightOnceMore · 06/10/2023 22:06

Ten days is really poor.

Decent jobs give months, not days.

Rabbitcar · 06/10/2023 22:07

Having just left a tech company and seen what’s out there, ten days is quite generous. Am now back in traditional industry with much better cover.

I was shocked by how low it was at a start up. I never have time off sick, but still.

soxthecat22 · 06/10/2023 22:07

Terrible IMO. 6 months full 6 months half here

RaeHitsEbSire · 06/10/2023 22:07

Beachwalker66 · 06/10/2023 22:03

I get six months full pay then six months half pay. I thought that was standard outside of minimum wage jobs…

That's what I get.

pointythings · 06/10/2023 22:09

It's very poor, and some people get less.
I'm back in the NHS after a year out but before I left I was on 6 months full, then 6 months half.

Haven't had a sick day in coming up 7 years, but that's just the luck of a good immune system - some people aren't that lucky.

2weekstowait · 06/10/2023 22:10

I’m pretty sure I get 6 months, and then a reduced amount.

chipshopElvis · 06/10/2023 22:10

That sounds fine for standard colds and things but not for a serious illness or operation. I've always had 6 months full 6 months half pay (4 different jobs). I haven't taken any at all for the past 9 years, but depending on age probably would not work for an employer that didn't offer more than that.

CircleWithin · 06/10/2023 22:11

I'm amazed at all these people getting 6 months' full pay! Are these public or private sector? Most I've ever had, after 6 years service (law firm) was 1 month full 1 month half pay.

WrongSwanson · 06/10/2023 22:12

Didn't get any sick pay above SSP when I worked in the private sector. That was 10 years ago but a high paid role.
I get 6 months full and 6 months half now. I rarely take more than a few days a year, despite a chronic condition, but knowing it is there does feel like a big safety net.

ActDottie · 06/10/2023 22:13

For the average person 10 days is fine. I never really take any sick days.

HashBrownandBeans · 06/10/2023 22:13

I get zero sick pay, and it’s been that way in every job I’ve had since about 2005

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 06/10/2023 22:14

Mine increases with length of service so I'd check if this is the case throughout your contract or just at first