Employer won't pay sick leave if it's a day either side of a Bank Hol w/e

[mrspuddleduckie]

Just received an email that reads:

Dear all

I would just like to remind you that any sickness leave that is taken before or after a Bank Holiday is classed as unpaid. This info is available in the 'Staff Handbook'.

...

Now this doesn't apply to me, as I wasn't off sick last week or this week, but I guess they had a few people off due to sickness today.

I was just wondering if they're actually allowed to make this a blanket policy? If someone was genuinely poorly for a few days over the weekend how would they even prove it? It just seems odd to me and I wondered if it was really allowed.

I'd be interested in any opinions out there - thanks

Yes it's allowed. Statuatory sick pay would leave it unpaid so anything they choose to pay is up to them.

Employers dont need to pay sick pay for certain lengths of sickness etc. I work for a global company. Only sick leave of three plus days is paid.

It seems like this company generally does pay sick leave but is excluding certain days from that policy.

Is this in line with the employee handbook, OP?

If it's their policy then they can enforce it

They're not obliged to offer anything more than SSP

Unfortunately, a lot of people take the piss.

Thanks for the info - I hadn't realised that they didn't have to pay sick pay. I guess it makes good business sense

Yes, if it contractual, the employer can in theory impose any rule they like

Have had this rule before and it does stop people taking the mick. If you had a sick note then you were paid so genuine cases were fine.