Statutory sick pay

[Parallella]

Hi. Just started a new job and it only offers sick pay in line with statutory provision. Idiotically, I didn't check their policy on this before I started. Partly because, at 45 years old, I've never ever worked for an employer that didn't offer enhanced occupational sick pay (barring student jobs etc way back)!

Am I right in thinking that this means that I'll only ever be paid my full salary for 3 days of sickness and it then drops to c.£100 per week?

It's an organisation with charitable status, less than 50 employees.

How normal is this?

The first three days of SSP (the "Waiting days") are usually unpaid.

You dont get paid for the 1st 3 days so SSP doesn't kick in until day 4

Thanks @ForcingSmiles and @dementedpixie - but presumably the employer would pay you for the first 3 days at your usual salary?

No, you won't be paid until ssp kicks in, so you go 3 days unpaid unless you use holiday allowance.

No If on ssp the first 3 days are usually completely unpaid

Usually no - no pay for first 3 days of sickness then statutory sick pay of around £100 per week. It has become a race to the bottom over the past few years.

It isn't at all uncommon in small businesses.

It’s not uncommon in big business either.

I don't think it's that unusual anymore sadly. These days it's more unusual to get full company sick pay, especially in the private sector.

We were told the first 3 waiting days is to deter people from taking random sick days and since they brought it in where I work sickness has gone down a lot. I don't know if that's because people can't afford it now and only take sick if they are genuinely ill or if they are coming into work ill because they can't lose 3 days pay.

Inhumane, isn’t it Op?

Thanks for all the response.

Blimey! I've been very naive having worked with very good T&Cs etc for so many years. I'm genuinely shocked.

Hmm. I can't see myself being able to stay in the role long term.

God what is this country becoming...?!

The first 3 days of SSP have been totally unpaid for many, many years.

I just changed jobs with this in mind. Im not often sick but I was for a few days and it was financially really difficult. It's a very harsh policy

@Comefromaway yes, I realised that, but I've always been paid enhanced sick pay by my employers. In my new job, it sounds like - if they only pay in line with statutory sick pay - then they won't cover the first 3 days.

I worked in nurseries twenty plus years ago and this was the norm. It’s not a new thing in many situations/professions

@Thetractorjustmoved yes I don't blame you. I would find it very difficult to survive if my salary was cut several days in a month.

Even with covid some companies pay SSP.

This is what the majority of people have and have always had, I'm not suggesting that is right, just that it is a fact. It isn't "becoming" anything. It is what it has always been.

This is why I have to have a month's salary saved . If I get Ill I would sink unless I had that backup

Very normal.

No pay for three days then it's about £96 per week from then on. If you're on long-term sick leave you can apply for UC I believe.

This happens a lot in retail and what I found when I used to work in that sector was people didn't call in for a "sicky" day they usually stayed off the whole week to let SSP kick in and almost used this as an additional holiday solution!!!!! Often occurring during the school holidays, Christmas and in nicer weather so in some ways it's counter productive as people are off work longer

Thanks all. This issue has led me down a bit of a Google rabbit hole. Unison did a survey of UK public and private companies a few years ago and found that 75% of them offered occupational sick pay above SSP.

It's probably pretty sector dependent. The problem is that SSP levels are so low (especially when you compare it to other European countries). I see that various charities (Mind especially) have/had campaigns to lobby govt to make it at least in line with minimum pay. It feels quite discriminatory for those with disabilities, chronic health / mental health issues.

Oh well, I kind of messed up by not checking this first. I've had a chronic health condition all my adult life and although I've not needed time off for it for years (other than hosp appointments) I can't take that for granted.

Unison did a survey of UK public and private companies a few years ago and found that 75% of them offered occupational sick pay above SSP.

Actually it was somebody else's research from 2015, and they only surveyed 539 employers. There are a hell of a lot more employers than that. The benchmark was also only "offering better than SSP" terms, which is kind of meaningless. One weeks full pay per year and discretionary at that is better than SSP. Many employers that do offer occupational schemes make them discretionary, which means they have a scheme better than SSP, but you could very likely still find yourself on SSP.

Common in the voluntary sector.

@Jalisco I stand corrected!