Sick pay

[ilovewinterpansies]

Hi there

What's the official position for paying a nanny when off sick?

I've always paid our nanny for sick days as it's been the odd one and I don't want to be unkind, but this week it's looking like she's going to be off for 4 or 5 days. I'll pay for 3 days as we've managed to muddle through working from home but tomorrow/Friday will need to pay for extra cover, and simply can't afford to pay twice!

Guidance on nannytax site is that any sick days (before you go into statutory sick pay territory) don't need to be paid - is that right?

Thanks v much for your help and guidance!

Officially the first three qualifying days are non paid, called waiting days.
From the fourth qualifying day Statutory Sick Pay applies.

Employer guide is here: www.gov.uk/employers-sick-pay/eligibility-and-form-ssp1
Your nanny payroll provider will provide you with more information about Statutory Sick Pay if you ask them.

It is nice of you to pay the first three days, your nanny will appreciate that. Yes NannyTax are right to say that the first three days of sickness can be unpaid.

If they went off sick on Monday and are still off sick on Friday but come back to work on Monday, plus they work Mon-Fri, then I think SSP is £37.70 for the week (3 waiting days plus 2 sick days), as it is £94.25 for a full week.

In the past small employers could reclaim this Statutory payment from HMRC but alas that was withdrawn a few years ago (I think 2013/14 was last eligible tax year), so SSP is now a cost to employers.

Thank you so much @nannynick , you are so helpful and have answered all my questions. Really appreciate you taking the time to answer so comprehensively. Thank you.

What he said. The contract /nannytax states sickness absence is not paid until ssp kicks in. In reality I have always paid her, because I'm too busy to change the direct debit. I did have a bit of a chat the other day asking whether she wanted to take a random day off as holiday or as unpaid leave, as I don't want to start a process of her just expecting to get paid when I then need to arrange cover.