Sick Pay Advice for Employers

As the employer, you must pay a minimum of £118.75 per week of SSP to your ill staff member. You must pay this for up to 28 weeks if the employee has legitimate reason to be absent from work due to illness.

To qualify for SSP, the employee must earn an average of at least £125 per week, and agency workers also qualify. They must also let you know if they’re unable to work before your set deadline or within seven days. An employee may not qualify if they are already getting Statuary Maternity Pay or if they have already received the maximum amount of SSP (28 weeks).

Keep in mind that you may also pay more than this amount if you feel it’s appropriate by enrolling on a sick pay scheme. Make sure that this criterion is outlined in your sickness absence policy for your employees to refer to if needed!

Getting sick pay wrong is a no-go. Doing so can lead to your business facing costly litigation, including being taken to an employment tribunal for reasons such as unlawful deductions from their wages.

Here at Croner, our experts are on hand to help you stay compliant in the ever-evolving world of employment law. We can help you get a better grasp on everything SSP and ensure you’re remaining complaint when it comes to what your workforce are entitled to.