Should a student with a Saturday job get sick pay?

[Ponders]

DS2 works 9¼ hours in a reputable supermarket every Saturday. Last week he was off sick; he is normally paid on a Friday but he says he didn't get any pay this week - is that legal?

(Have looked at directgov & it seems to say it depends on your T&C, & goodness knows where his contract is!)

Yes, it's legal.
SSP does not kick in until you have been sick for 4 days, and you have to earn at least £97 per week. An employer has no obligation to pay anything more than SSP (i.e. nothing for the first 3 days) unless the contract says otherwise.
Has your son received a statement of his terms?

oh thanks, RD - I wasn't sure of the legal situation. He is only paid £45.

I used to work 16 hours a week & got full sick pay (not SSP) although that may not have been until after I'd been there for over 2 years. He has got a contract of employment somewhere - I'll have a rummage - but has only been employed about 1½ years.

I work a full 37.5 hrs a week and don't get anything more than SSP. Perfectly legal. Unfair perhaps, but legal.

turns out it was a wires-crossed situation - he was logged by a supervisor as absent without cause, although he had rung in sick. He had a back-to-work with his line manager today & he will be paid (but not until next week now)

sophisticat, I know there are lots of companies who work like that & yes, it is unfair - his is generally very fair though, which is why I was surprised.