Carers and Covid

Wibbles

My sister is a carer - she works for a private company who do not pay sick pay

She has caught Covid 4 times now, every time - from her clients and each time - she has not been able to claim sick pay from her employer

She has also not been able to claim sick pay from the government until day 4

The law needs to change - EVERYBODY should be entitled to employer paid sick pay - especially when it is caused by the work itself….

Rachel_Scope

Hi @Wibbles, I actually didn't know that some companies could opt out of paying sick pay until the 4th day, it's awful. Especially considering the illness has come from the work itself. I'm sorry your sister is in the this situation, it's something that should definitely be addressed.

Wibbles

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/904798#Comment_904798

It's not even a case of paying sick pay from day 4 - they do not pay sick pay full stop

My sister would have to claim SSP from the government

Rachel_Scope

ACAS - SSP has some good information. Has her employer explained why they won't pay SSP? There's some more information here that could be useful https://www.gov.uk/employers-sick-pay/eligibility-and-form-ssp1#:~:text=Employees%20do%20not%20qualify%20for,do%20not%20get%20these%20payments . I don't see why they aren't paying sick pay as employers must pay it if the employee is eligible.

Wibbles

That's SSP which is paid by the government

She can get that

She can't get employer paid sick pay

poppy123456

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/904842#Comment_904842

It's not paid by the Government, it's paid by the employer. An employer must pay SSP if the employee has earned an average of £123/week. Yes, it's correct that it's not paid for the first 3 days of sickness. See link.

https://www.gov.uk/statutory-sick-pay/what-youll-get#:~:text=SSP%20is%20paid%20by%20your,SSP%20%2C%20talk%20to%20your%20employer.

Wibbles

Yes, but its pay at a considerably reduced level as if she's being punished for catching COVID through her work!!!

Rather than sick pay at normal rates

poppy123456

Yes, not all employers offer contractual sick pay/Occupational sick pay.

Wibbles

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/905034#Comment_905034

I forgot that - every job that I have ever done was covered by Occupational sick pay !!