Are sick leave rules a bit bonkers?
Discussion
I'm shortly returning to work after being signed off for 4 weeks following a broken arm. There is still further treatment to go on, x-rays and physiotherapy, and today I was somewhat surprised when my employer informed me that these would now require me to take holiday / unpaid leave or make up the time.
In my circumstances it's not vitally important as the circumstances of how I broke the arm means I am covered for loss of earnings, but it does seem a bit weird - its the same injury, the same treatment, but now it doesn't qualify for sick pay.
I can understand things like dentists appointments or other things that could be considered regular maintenance if you like not qualifying (just about), but it seems odd that acute injuries are not covered.
What are other peoples opinions? any interesting stories to share?
In my circumstances it's not vitally important as the circumstances of how I broke the arm means I am covered for loss of earnings, but it does seem a bit weird - its the same injury, the same treatment, but now it doesn't qualify for sick pay.
I can understand things like dentists appointments or other things that could be considered regular maintenance if you like not qualifying (just about), but it seems odd that acute injuries are not covered.
What are other peoples opinions? any interesting stories to share?
Well you've had four weeks full pay as essentially a perk above that which is required for an employee. The employer has essentialy "stood" you your wage/salary whilst you have not been earning it for the company.
Requiring you to take it as holiday is pretty reasonable. They could just opt to put you on SSP @ £87.55 a week. See https://www.gov.uk/statutory-sick-pay/overview which incidently if you are permanent will be due regardless so you'd still get this whilst on unpaid leave after the fourth day.
There is no requirement to pay you full wage/salary whilst you are not earning it for the business due to illness but SSP is available on the 5th day of illness/injury. Anything above this should be listed in your employment contract - might be worth checking?
Seems harsh to some but essentially you've gone from profit centre to cost centre and if the business you work for only had cost centres it'd be gone pretty quickly.
Requiring you to take it as holiday is pretty reasonable. They could just opt to put you on SSP @ £87.55 a week. See https://www.gov.uk/statutory-sick-pay/overview which incidently if you are permanent will be due regardless so you'd still get this whilst on unpaid leave after the fourth day.
There is no requirement to pay you full wage/salary whilst you are not earning it for the business due to illness but SSP is available on the 5th day of illness/injury. Anything above this should be listed in your employment contract - might be worth checking?
Seems harsh to some but essentially you've gone from profit centre to cost centre and if the business you work for only had cost centres it'd be gone pretty quickly.
in the days when employees would stay for years with the same employer, the investment and goodwill generated by allowing time off would be rewarded by extra loyalty and respect from the employee.
These days, when our culture is pretty much Carrion, taking all we can get, the employer isn't arsed if you are put out or not.
Personally as I'm self employed, any time off costs me dear, and I'd be making up the time missed by coming in early and going home later.
These days, when our culture is pretty much Carrion, taking all we can get, the employer isn't arsed if you are put out or not.
Personally as I'm self employed, any time off costs me dear, and I'd be making up the time missed by coming in early and going home later.
Due to having to use public transport my appointments do add up timewise, with it taking about 2 hours to get to work (versus 30 minutes in a car with no traffic, or 50 minutes in normal traffic, or 1 hour 5 minutes cycling).
For the previous 4 weeks my line manager was aiming to put me on ssp, however my employment contract decrees a length of full sick pay entitlement increasing in line with amount of time spent with the company so he had to go by that.
It's not really about my own situation, it's more of a general what do you think sick pay is for - putting aside employers choosing to give full pay as a perk whilst people are sick, I think ssp should be available for things like hospital appointments / physio / any other form of appointment relating to an acute injury.
For the previous 4 weeks my line manager was aiming to put me on ssp, however my employment contract decrees a length of full sick pay entitlement increasing in line with amount of time spent with the company so he had to go by that.
It's not really about my own situation, it's more of a general what do you think sick pay is for - putting aside employers choosing to give full pay as a perk whilst people are sick, I think ssp should be available for things like hospital appointments / physio / any other form of appointment relating to an acute injury.
Maybe i've always been blessed with supportive employers but I've never been asked to make up time for any appointment or sickness related time off regardless of the severity or nature of the visit.
Dental and Doctor appointments I normally try to do during my days off (shift worker) but if anything ever does crop up on a shift day and require me to pop out for a while, it has never been an issue.
There really are some poor employers and also some employees who will take the piss. Fortunately, neither me or my employer fall into these categories.
Dental and Doctor appointments I normally try to do during my days off (shift worker) but if anything ever does crop up on a shift day and require me to pop out for a while, it has never been an issue.
There really are some poor employers and also some employees who will take the piss. Fortunately, neither me or my employer fall into these categories.
poppopbangbang said:
Well you've had four weeks full pay as essentially a perk above that which is required for an employee. The employer has essentialy "stood" you your wage/salary whilst you have not been earning it for the company.
Requiring you to take it as holiday is pretty reasonable. They could just opt to put you on SSP @ £87.55 a week. See https://www.gov.uk/statutory-sick-pay/overview which incidently if you are permanent will be due regardless so you'd still get this whilst on unpaid leave after the fourth day.
There is no requirement to pay you full wage/salary whilst you are not earning it for the business due to illness but SSP is available on the 5th day of illness/injury. Anything above this should be listed in your employment contract - might be worth checking?
Seems harsh to some but essentially you've gone from profit centre to cost centre and if the business you work for only had cost centres it'd be gone pretty quickly.
I get full sick pay for six months (followed by half pay for another six months). If I broke a bone I'd stay off for a couple of months until I was 100% to return.Requiring you to take it as holiday is pretty reasonable. They could just opt to put you on SSP @ £87.55 a week. See https://www.gov.uk/statutory-sick-pay/overview which incidently if you are permanent will be due regardless so you'd still get this whilst on unpaid leave after the fourth day.
There is no requirement to pay you full wage/salary whilst you are not earning it for the business due to illness but SSP is available on the 5th day of illness/injury. Anything above this should be listed in your employment contract - might be worth checking?
Seems harsh to some but essentially you've gone from profit centre to cost centre and if the business you work for only had cost centres it'd be gone pretty quickly.
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