When an employee falls ill or is unable to work due to sickness, they may be entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) from their employer SSP is a financial support provided to employees who are too unwell to work, and it is a legal requirement for employers to pay their eligible employees SSP when they meet the criteria But when exactly does Statutory Sick Pay start for employees who are off sick?
SSP starts on the fourth consecutive day of absence from work due to illness This means that employees will not receive SSP for the first three days that they are off sick, as these are known as “waiting days” Employers are not required to pay SSP for these initial three days, but they may have their own sick pay policy in place which may provide for payment during this period.
The fourth day is known as the “qualifying day”, and this is when employees become eligible for Statutory Sick Pay This qualifying day must fall on a day that the employee would normally have worked – for example, if an employee is off sick on a weekend, their qualifying day would be the next working day Once the fourth day is reached, SSP will then be paid for each day that the employee remains off work due to sickness, up to a maximum of 28 weeks.
It is important for employees to inform their employer of their sickness absence as soon as possible, ideally on the first day of absence This allows the employer to put the necessary procedures in place to start paying SSP from the qualifying day Employees will also need to provide their employer with a doctor’s fit note if they are off sick for more than seven days in a row, including non-working days The fit note will confirm the employee’s illness and the expected duration of their absence from work.
Employers have the right to request proof of sickness from employees, such as a doctor’s note, if they have reason to believe that the employee is not genuinely unwell when does statutory sick pay start. This is to prevent any abuse of the sick pay system and ensure that SSP is only paid to eligible employees who are genuinely unfit for work due to illness.
It is worth noting that the qualifying day system for SSP may vary depending on the terms of employment and the sick pay policy of the employer Some employers may choose to pay SSP from the first day of sickness absence, known as “day one” sick pay, as an additional benefit to their employees Others may have a longer waiting period before SSP kicks in, for example, starting from the seventh day of absence.
Employees should familiarize themselves with their employer’s sick pay policy and the terms of their employment contract to understand when SSP will start for them if they need to take sick leave It is important to know what you are entitled to in terms of sick pay and how to claim it if you are unable to work due to illness.
In some cases, employees may be entitled to additional sick pay benefits on top of SSP, such as occupational sick pay or company sick pay These are provided at the discretion of the employer and may be more generous than the statutory minimum Employees should check their employment contract or company handbook for details of any additional sick pay benefits that may be available to them.
Overall, it is important for employees to understand when Statutory Sick Pay starts and how to claim it if they need to take time off work due to illness By following the correct procedures and keeping their employer informed, employees can ensure that they receive the financial support they are entitled to during periods of sickness absence