
If you are unsure about anything on sick pay, talk to your employer first. Any rules on sick leave will still apply. They might do this if they don’t qualify for sick pay, for example. If an employee is ill just before or during their holiday, they can take it as sick leave instead.Īn employee can ask to take their paid holiday for the time they’re off work sick. If you're on sick leave you can normally build up four weeks' statutory paid holiday time, like any other employee. Statutory holiday entitlement is built up (accrued) while an employee is off work sick (no matter how long they’re off).Īny statutory holiday entitlement that isn’t used because of illness can be carried over into the next leave year. How time off sick affects your holiday entitlement Time off for dependants (compassionate leave).However, your employer does not have to pay you for this time unless your contract says they must. You can take time off to care for a sick dependant. You should speak to a lawyer or trade union representative if you're considering this. This applies to both a physical injury sustained at work or a psychological injury, like stress. If your employer is responsible for your incapacity you have a legal right to make a personal injury claim. Your employer may have a special scheme in place for workplace injuries - check with them for details.

The amount of sick pay you get isn't usually affected by the cause of your sickness. It's not paid for the first three days you're off, unless you've been paid SSP within the last eight weeks and are eligible for it again. You get SSP for the days you would normally have worked. If you don't have a company scheme, you will be paid Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) by your employer, as long as you qualify.įor changes to Statutory Sick Pay for coronavirus (COVID-19) self-isolation see Statutory Sick Pay. However, it is sometimes possible for a discretionary arrangement to become a part of your contract through 'custom and practice'. If your employer has chosen to pay discretionary sick pay in the past this does not automatically mean they have to in the future.
#Sick leave free#
However, in doing so they must make sure that their decision is free from discrimination (that is, they're not favouring one category of employee over another when they're required not to). Also, some sick pay schemes say that payments are 'at the employer's discretion', which means your employer can refuse payment if they think the absence is unjustified. Your employer can choose to make an exception and pay you sick pay even if you don't qualify under the company rules. From 1 July 2022, authorised doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and pharmacists can sign a fit note. Usually you will be able to self-certify for 7 days of illness, beyond that a fit note ( statement of fitness for work) is normally required. Your employer may set out how you should tell them that you are sick, ringing in before a certain time of the day, for example. Proof of sickness required by your employer After this, you're likely to receive half-pay for a further period before any sick leave you take becomes unpaid.

You would then receive your normal pay during any period that you are off work due to illness, up to a set number of weeks. A typical company sick pay schemeĬompany sick pay schemes vary from employer to employer.Ī typical sick pay scheme usually starts after a minimum period of service, for example, a three month probationary period. If your company doesn't offer a scheme, the written statement should say so. Your employer can offer any scheme that does not fall below the legal minimum.ĭetails of your company sick pay entitlement should be included in your written statement of employment particulars, which you should be given within two months of starting work. Your employer may offer a sick pay scheme that is more generous than the legal minimum (SSP). If you aren't entitled to anything under a company scheme, your employer should still pay you Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) if you're eligible. If your employer runs their own sick pay scheme it is a 'company sick pay scheme' and you should be paid what you are due under that.
