Two million of UK's lowest-paid workers may get statutory sick pay
15 July 2019
The Government has launched a consultation seeking views on whether to extend Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) to people earning less than £118 a week and will also look at strengthening legal guidance for firms to take "early, proportionate and reasonable" steps to help employees back to work - before dismissal on health grounds.
SSP is paid by employers at a flat rate of £94.25 a week for up to 28 weeks. SSP is currently only payable to workers who earn at least the ‘lower earnings limit’ of £118 per week.
The Department for Work and Pensions believe two million people, some of the lowest paid and many of whom are part-time workers, earn less than that.
Background
The Government pledged there would be a consultation in their November 2017 green paper ‘Improving Lives - The Future of Work, Health and Disability’.
The Government said that they wanted to see a reformed SSP system which supports more flexible working, to help support phased returns to work. They also pledged to:
- Improve and better publicise existing guidance on SSP eligibility to ensure that employers and employees both understand their rights and responsibilities; and
- Consider Matthew Taylor’s recommendations in the Good Work Plan (Recommendation 19) about SSP eligibility and the way entitlement is accrued and about sickness absence management.
The consultation is open until 7 October 2019, with any amendments to introduce employer support to reduce ill health-related job losses following this date.
Aspire Comment
An employer should have an absence policy in place to make it clear exactly what is expected if an employee is absent. We can support your business by reviewing your existing absence policies and return to work programmes to ensure they are clear and compliant.
If you would like to discuss this news item or if you have a tricky absence management issue, do get in touch.