Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is a payment made to employees who are unable to work due to sickness or injury It is a legal requirement for employers to provide SSP to eligible employees, and understanding when SSP starts is crucial for both employers and employees.
SSP starts when an employee is unable to work due to illness or injury for four or more consecutive days, including non-working days such as weekends and public holidays The first three days are known as “qualifying days” and are not paid by the employer SSP will start from the fourth day onwards, known as the “waiting days.”
Employees are entitled to receive SSP for up to 28 weeks, starting from the fourth qualifying day The amount of SSP is set by the government and is currently £96.35 per week, to be paid by the employer Employers can choose to pay more than the statutory amount if they have a company sick pay policy in place.
It is important for both employers and employees to be aware of the eligibility criteria for SSP To be eligible for SSP, an employee must:
1 Be classified as an employee and have done work for their employer
2 Earn at least £120 per week on average
3 when does statutory sick pay start. Inform their employer of their absence in accordance with the company’s sickness absence policy
4 Provide their employer with a doctor’s fit note (formerly known as a sick note) if the absence lasts more than seven days
If an employee meets these criteria, they are entitled to receive SSP from the fourth qualifying day of their sickness absence It is the responsibility of the employer to ensure that employees receive SSP when they are eligible and to keep accurate records of SSP payments made.
Employers should be aware that there are certain circumstances where SSP may not apply, such as if the employee is self-employed, does not earn enough to qualify, or has not followed the company’s sickness absence reporting procedures In these cases, the employee may be entitled to other forms of support, such as Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance.
Employees should also be aware of their rights when it comes to SSP and seek advice if they believe they are being unfairly denied SSP by their employer If an employee believes they are entitled to SSP and it has not been paid, they can seek assistance from organizations such as Citizens Advice or the Advisory, Conciliation, and Arbitration Service (ACAS).
Understanding when SSP starts is important for both employers and employees to ensure that employees receive the support they are entitled to when they are unable to work due to sickness or injury By following the eligibility criteria and keeping accurate records of SSP payments, employers can fulfill their legal obligations and support their employees during difficult times.
In conclusion, statutory sick pay starts from the fourth qualifying day of an employee’s sickness absence and is paid by the employer for up to 28 weeks Both employers and employees should be aware of the eligibility criteria for SSP and seek advice if they have any concerns about their entitlement to SSP By understanding when SSP starts, employers can support their employees during periods of illness and injury, ensuring a fair and consistent approach to sickness absence management.