Employers need to make sure they are not caught unawares by a change to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) which comes into force this month.
With effect from 24 March, as part of the Government’s ‘living with Covid’ policy, current COVID-19 related statutory sick pay (SSP) rules have ended.
Workers’ right to claim SSP due to sickness or self-isolating from the first day of absence has also come to an end.
Samantha Randall, an Associate Solicitor with Palmers, who specialises in employment law, said: “The three-day wait for SSP was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the Government saying that employers must pay it from the first qualifying day. The amendment to the SSP rules was made in the Coronavirus Act 2020.
“These changes mean that Covid will now be treated like any other illness, so anyone unwell with the virus will only be paid SSP from the fourth day of their absence.
“As mandatory self-isolation is no longer required, the onus is now on employers to provide guidance to their employees if they have tested positive.
This is already causing headaches for employers with the potential for the virus to spread within the workplace and put other workers at risk.”
Samantha added: “It may be helpful, when advising workers, to keep in mind the continuing public health advice which, regardless of the relaxation of legislation, is for anyone who tests positive should stay at home and avoid contact with other people.”
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