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Original poster

New job no sick pay for first two days sick

25 replies

mercurymaze · 20/11/2017 19:56

Is this a new thing ? Have never come across it but surely most people are only sick a day or two ? Seems unfair as people will go in coughing and spluttering etc

OP posts:

Florene · 20/11/2017 19:57

I think the minimum is 3 days unpaid, then SSP only. Anything over this is a bonus set by the individual company.

Nyx1 · 20/11/2017 20:03

yes, I've heard of it and worked for a company who only did "discretionary" sick pay or something

it is, I think, to stop people taking that 1 day off sick for a cold, so yes, it will encourage people to come in when they are infectious.

the really stupid thing is, in many cases, that day in bed will save you get anything worse (well me in particular, I have asthma and I find if I can nip a cold in the bud it saves me a chest infection).

have you said yes to the job yet or are you just looking over the contract after the offer? I will do my best not to work for a company like this again.

SongforSal · 20/11/2017 20:07

My work are dreadful for this. I work for an extremely established company (I've been there 6 months) and recently had a day off sick, after being unwell for 3 days, I peaked and had no choice but to phone in. On my return I found out we have zero sick pay and I would lose a day's wage from my salary. After tax I get about 400 a week, so getting ill for say 2weeks is out of the question as bills wouldn't get paid. The reality is, many of my colleagues are coming to work sick, simply because they can't afford not to. Upshot being, the germs keep getting spread. It is a stupid situation. Never had a policy like it in a saleried job.

CotswoldStrife · 20/11/2017 20:08

Not new at all, more widespread than you'd think in fact.

Nyx1 · 20/11/2017 20:10

Sal "On my return I found out we have zero sick pay and I would lose a day's wage from my salary."

Please don't take offence, but how is it that you didn't know this initially?

Whoopsiveovershared · 20/11/2017 20:11

Its quite usual now days to have no sick pay stall, apart from SSP, which kicks in at 4 or 5 days. (Can't remember which, sorry). If the company has to pay someone to cover your job on that day, they prossably can't afford to pay you as well.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 20/11/2017 20:14

This is quite common, I find. I manage a team of TUPE'd employees from all different organisations and a few don't get paid for the first 2 days, some no sick pay other than SSP and some full pay for 6 months.

Nyx1 · 20/11/2017 20:15

Whoops "If the company has to pay someone to cover your job on that day, they prossably can't afford to pay you as well"

this might be true of some companies but sometimes it's the ones with whacking great profits and directors on £800k who won't pay sick pay.

that's one reason I did agree to work for the company that only did "discretionary" sick pay - I talked to them about it and in reality, they only had that condition in case they felt someone was taking the mick.

Employment conditions do seem to get worse and worse.

Original poster

mercurymaze · 20/11/2017 20:16

nyx i am already doing the job, didn't get contract until two weeks into the job! (also it's a local authority so it didn't cross my mind there would be an issue)

OP posts:

Cyclebird · 20/11/2017 20:18

I'm a solicitor working for a medium sized law firm and employees here don't get paid any sick leave until they've completed two years service.

Pemba · 20/11/2017 20:48

SSP is mandatory I think. DD works for an agency, only been there a few months and recently got some SSP when she was off having her wisdom teeth out in hospital. It only kicks in on day 4 of your sickness though (but I THINK that days you normally don't work count towards the waiting time, eg if you were off for a week starting on a Friday, and normally don't work Saturday and Sunday, you would have Friday unpaid but get SSP from the Monday, I am not 100% sure though).

The amount SSP is set at is pitiful though, something like £17 a day.

Lily2007 · 20/11/2017 20:53

I've only worked in one place where the contract said they didn't pay it but strangely they did and it was just to give the option of not paying it.

Cheerybigbottom · 20/11/2017 21:04

From my point of view only SSP is typical, and I've no idea when that kicks in. After a week maybe? I've never had sick pay, but I've also never been salaried. DH gets sick pay as part of his salary package but tbh there's a lot of pressure to use annual leave instead.

TheScarletSquid · 20/11/2017 21:37

If you work for a local authority, in most cases you would be on Green Book terms and conditions - does your authority not use these?

It is really unusual for a local authority to put this sort of condition on sick pay, in fact it's unusual for any large public sector organisation, I would have thought.

SongforSal · 21/11/2017 17:33

Nyx... There was no mention in my contract at all!

YellowMakesMeSmile · 21/11/2017 20:23

I think it's getting more and more common as people phone in sick too easily or lie as they want/need the day off. Employers are wising up.

Original poster

mercurymaze · 24/11/2017 20:04

It's not really on though is it

OP posts:

insancerre · 25/11/2017 09:53

I've worked in private nurseries for years and none of them have ever paid sick pay for odd days off
It's statutory sick pay only and then only after 3 days

sausagerollsrock · 25/11/2017 09:58

Many companies don't pay any sick pay now, Dh doesn't receive any.
I'm self employed and I don't get sick pay either.

Angelwendy · 25/11/2017 10:01

The last company I worked for didn't give any sick pay for first two days either and we could only get sick pay after that if we got a sick note from the doctor. And even then it wasn't full pay, think it was about 50% or something. It meant we'd all come into work half dead sometimes. I remember having to work when I had bad bronchitis and it was torture

Angelwendy · 25/11/2017 10:02

My sister's company don't get any sick pay at all unless signed off for more than a week, and it's only a small portion of the salary they get

Akire · 25/11/2017 10:07

I’ve only worked for companies that did that. People were still sick when needed to be. Sick pay is only £73 a week or so so even if you are ill unpaid Monday Tuesday Wednesday you only get 2/5ths on Thursday Friday only a full weeks sick is £73.

hippyhippyshake · 25/11/2017 10:10

Before we joined an academy chain, teachers got sick pay, TAs didn't. You couldn't even use a day's holiday because we don't effectively get any. My argument is that unless the company/LA are having to get someone in to cover your workload, they are making a profit from your illness by not paying you because nine times out of ten the work will still be there waiting for you when you go back!

AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 25/11/2017 10:14

I worked for a charity with this policy - i was at HQ but they ran care homes for over 55s and the care industry is notorious for high levels of sickness absence. All staff were on the same terms and conditions with regard to sick pay to make it fairer for the care staff - they weren't singled out. But there was also a scheme where if you weren't off sick in a month you were entered into a draw for £100 of high street vouchers and 5 people were chosen each month, and you got £100 of vouchers if you weren't off sick in six months.

GertrudeCB · 26/11/2017 12:43

It's not moral in my opinion but unfortunately not illegal as they are following the letter of the law.
It just encourages people to attend work and spread germs about. Madness.

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