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?

I honestly thought the UK was better on providing decent sick pay than this.

I wasn't correcting you - although I certainly would correct Unison because that's a very sloppy piece of work that lends a totally incorrect picture. But you aren't alone in thinking UK employment law and terms are better than they are.

And watch this space because some of our landmark laws arose from EU membership and there had been some serious rumblings in government about moving away from them.

@Jalisco I fear you are correct about potential row back from landmark laws related to EU membership. Sounds like we might move closer to the US model 😕

In my experience, I often see companies who have this on t&cs but in reality normally pay most employees more than this. My company would normally pay me but im aware people with a very poor attendance record don't.

And that is potentially unlawful discrimination. Whilst some places do have discretionary sick pay as yours does, it is fraught with problems because terms should not be based on whims or perceptions. As soon as it isn't "one rule for all" (which may not be "fair" but it's a level playing field) then people with disabilities or health conditions, pregnancy etc potentially end up as the main losers.

This is very common in many work places, it’s to deter people being off sick, even during covid times where we had to close our work place as so many staff had covid we didn’t get paid anymore than SSP. I caught it at work and it was still a straight no.

changed job and have a better sick leave policy which kicks in after 6 months.

It may deter some people from taking 'sickies' sometimes, but overall I think you get more from staff when they feel better supported and looked after by an employer. That's certainly been my experience.

Glad you found another job with better terms!