Latest news with #sickpay
Times
20 hours ago
- Business
- Times
Should I cut back our sick pay policy to save money?
Q: We offer full sick pay to staff based on their actual earnings after the first three days off, but with the new rules requiring us to pay from day one, we are thinking of reducing the amounts to the statutory minimum. We're wondering if the saving is worth the hassle? A: The government's decision to legally require all firms to pay their staff statutory sick pay (SSP) from their first day of sickness is expected to take effect from April 2026. While well intended and undoubtedly beneficial for 1.3 million workers who will receive it for the first time, it is going to increase costs for a lot of businesses, with small companies likely to be hit the hardest. • Small business owners want rebate on new sickness benefit rules A number of clients I speak to are facing the same issue you are: do they make changes to their occupational sick pay amounts in light of the new regulations, or do they keep them as they are and try to absorb the costs created by the new rules? I know businesses across a range of sectors that struggle with high sickness rates. They are concerned about the cost of the changes, so budgeting for the increased cost and reviewing your sickness data is going to be crucial in helping you understand the impact and prepare for any additional expense the changes may cause. I recommend reviewing your sickness data first as this should give you an idea of the patterns of sickness in your business and of the number of additional sick days you're going to have to pay SSP for when the rules change. After that I recommend looking at your financial data, and try to understand the scale of additional costs the change will create for you. Your accountant or finance team should be able to help you with both of these. As to whether it's worth the change in your offering, in my experience, employees can feel aggrieved when something they perceive as a benefit is taken away from them, so if you can afford to keep paying them at their current rate, it might be worth considering doing so. Regardless of which step you choose to take, you're going to need to review and update employment contracts, sickness policies and procedures to reflect the changes. Ultimately, the decision to adjust your occupational sick pay policy in response to the changes in SSP will depend on your organisation's financial capacity and strategic priorities. Julie Gunnell is an associate director of payroll growth at Azets, the professional services firm
The National
10-08-2025
- Business
- The National
‘Can my salary be deducted if I take sick leave during probation?'
Question: I work for an events company and come into contact with a lot of people. Following a recent event, I caught a bad cold and was too ill to go to work. I took two days off and mostly recovered then and over the weekend. My employer is now telling me that I will not be paid for the two days as I am still on probation. This is not fair, as I got ill while working. Is it legal for them to pay me for two days less this month? AR, Abu Dhabi Answer: The entitlement to sick pay is set out in the UAE Labour Law. Article 31, clause 2 states: 'The worker shall not be entitled to a paid sick leave during the probationary period. However, the employer may grant him a sick leave without pay, based on a medical report issued by the medical entity that stipulates the necessity of granting the leave.' This is the minimum requirement, but an employer can still choose to pay an employee. In theory, if someone is unwell due to an illness or injury that arose at work, they should be paid, but this can be impossible to prove in the case of illness. AR could have picked up a viral infection from anyone. While it may seem likely that it was caught at work in a busy environment, it cannot be proven either way. This means that, despite it seeming harsh, the employer can legally deduct two days of pay in their situation. Q: I lived in Dubai for a few years and moved back to the UK in January 2024. I own an apartment there and have decided to rent it out as I won't have time to use it much in the next couple of years. My questions are whether I have to declare this UAE income now that I am in the UK and if I can avoid being taxed on it? I bought the apartment using my UAE income nearly two years ago. BH, UK A: BH is a UK citizen and is permanently resident in the UK. Taxation is a complex area, so I can only answer here in brief. As he is UK resident for tax purposes, he is obliged to disclose all foreign income and gains to His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC). This applies to any income from renting out a property in another country as well as any gain from selling an asset such as a property. It does not matter where the income is paid or if the money never enters the UK. Any income or capital gain will be added to all UK earnings and taxed at the individual's marginal rate. If someone fails to disclose UK tax liabilities in relation to overseas or offshore income and gains, they will be liable to penalties. In addition, if someone is late in paying tax or a penalty, HMRC will charge interest on the outstanding amount. For deliberately failing to notify overseas income or a gain, the penalty can vary, being up to 200 per cent of the amount due, in addition to the tax payable. Ignorance of the law is not considered a reasonable excuse. Anyone who is leaving the UAE, or another Gulf country to return to the UK, or any other country where there are income and capital gain taxes, should seek advice as there may be ways to minimise future taxation. At least, they can be made aware of their position and plan accordingly as there are multiple tax-related issues that should be considered. Watch: Why expat packages are not what they used to be Q: I am leaving the country for a few weeks, and my cousin is going to stay in my apartment while I am away. I will be back at the end of September. My cousin would like to use my car when I am away, but is this allowed by law? If he incurs any traffic fines, who is responsible for paying them? SV, Dubai A: In theory, SV's cousin can drive the car, provided he is a UAE resident with a UAE driving licence, but some policies are restricted to named drivers only. Not all vehicle insurance policies permit any driver. SV should check with his insurance company to clarify and, if necessary, have the cousin added as an authorised driver. Someone on a tourist visa cannot drive a personally owned vehicle unless they are a first-degree relative of the owner. In this situation, confirmation should also be sought from the insurance company. If any traffic fines are incurred, the legal responsibility for paying them lies with the owner of the vehicle. The owner is also responsible for any parking fines, Salik or other toll fees, vehicle registration and insurance.
Yahoo
01-08-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
What sick pay am I entitled to and how can I get paid?
Here's what you need to know about what sick pay you're currently entitled to - and the government's proposed changes. The government's eagerly anticipated Employment Rights Bill could spell significant benefits for both workers and businesses as it seeks to cover part of workers' salaries from their first sick day. The impending change, which would see workers paid from their first day of illness instead of their fourth, could save UK businesses by as much as £2bn, according to analysis from the Trades Union Congress (TUC). Here's what sick pay you're currently entitled to, and when, as well as what you'll be able to get once the Bill comes into force. What is statutory sick pay and how much is it? In short, sick pay is what your employer pays you if you are too ill to work. Statutory sick pay (SSP) is the minimum legal amount your employer must pay you if you are unable to work due to sickness in the UK. As of April 2025, statutory sick pay was bumped up slightly, increasing from £116.75 to £118.75 per week. It can be paid for up to 28 weeks if you're too ill to work. However, to get statutory sick pay, you need to earn above a certain amount a week. If you earn £125 or more per week before tax, you can receive statutory sick pay. This also applies to agency, casual and zero-hours workers if they meet this criteria. If an employee is eligible, they are entitled to statutory sick pay for the days they would have worked, except for the first three. These three days are called 'waiting days'. Employers can also have a discretionary company sick pay policy. This means the employer offers better pay for some sickness circumstances, but not for others. Check with you're employer if you're unsure. How am I paid statutory sick pay? If you're eligible for statutory sick pay, this is paid by your employer. This will be paid through your regular payroll system, in the same way a person normally receives their wages. Employers, however, do require a sick note from a GP for your sick pay to continue if an employee misses more than seven calendar days of work due to illness. What changes to sick pay will come in, and when? Under the Bill, workers will be paid from the first day of their illness, instead of the fourth. Currently, employees must earn at least £125 per week to qualify for SSP. Once the bill comes into effect, this minimum earnings requirement will be abolished, making over 1.3 million workers newly eligible for sick pay. The amount they receive 80% of their normal weekly earnings, or £118.75, whichever is lower. The government said the changes will 'make sure no one is forced to choose between their health and financial security', and can stay out of work without compromising their health or finances. The Bill is in its later stages, and is scheduled for its third reading in the House of Lords on 3 September 2025. It is expected to be passed in Autumn of this year. However, workers shouldn't expect to benefit immediately. The Bill is expected to see its first changes come into effect in October 2026, with the legislation fully rolled out by 2027.
The Guardian
16-07-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Sick pay changes could benefit UK firms by up to £2bn, TUC says
Changes to sick pay to cover part of workers' salaries from the first day off could end up benefiting British businesses by as much as £2bn, according to analysis commissioned by the UK's main union body. The Trades Union Congress (TUC), which is pushing for the government to stick with its plans for workers' rights, said modelling showed businesses would gain benefits of £2.4bn thanks to productivity boosts, while facing direct costs of £425m to pay for extra sick days. Sick employees in the UK are currently entitled to statutory sick pay only from their fourth day of illness, including weekends and days on which people do not usually work. The government's employment rights bill, which is being debated in the House of Lords, proposes to abolish the wait, putting the UK in line with countries such as Germany and Sweden. Statutory sick pay, paid by employers for up to 28 weeks, is worth £118.75 a week – or £3 an hour – for people too ill to work. People paid less than £125 a week are not eligible at all, meaning as many as 1.3 million people who work do not have any entitlement. The lower limit would be abolished under the proposed changes. Business lobby groups have argued vociferously against the employment rights bill, which is closely associated with the deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner, and which includes measures such as protection against unfair dismissal from the first day of employment, a ban on fire-and-rehire practices, and a right to flexible working where practical. The Federation of Small Businesses has said the changes to statutory sick pay 'will make employers think twice about their hiring plans'. It is concerned that employees will be quicker to take sick leave, increasing the costs for businesses. The TUC's analysis, carried out by the consultancy WPI Economics, indicates that improved sick pay could provide benefits for businesses. It argues, citing a 2018 US study, that easier access to sick pay may, counterintuitively, lead to lower overall sickness absence, because workers would be less likely to spread infectious diseases such as colds and influenza. It also suggests that earlier sick pay could prevent sick workers from dragging down colleagues' productivity, improve overall morale and employee retention, and reduce longer absences. However, those proposed benefits have not been subject to large-scale tests in the UK. Paul Nowak, the TUC's general secretary, said: 'Nobody should be plunged into hardship when they become ill. The government's sick pay reforms will stop millions from facing a financial cliff edge if they get sick. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion 'With sick pay rights from the first day of sickness, workers will know they can take the time they need to recover without needing to rush back to work. That's good for business and the wider economy too. A healthier, happier workforce is a more productive workforce.' The UK's rate of sick pay is far below that of more generous countries such as Sweden, which mandates 80% of salary. The TUC said the UK's overall rate should also be increased.
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The Independent
26-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
‘We haven't learned anything': Readers despair over UK's Covid response in 2025
Big disasters often change how we see the world. The Lisbon earthquake in 1755 shook people's faith in religion. After the 1918 flu pandemic, there was growing interest in fresh air, better hygiene, and healthier living spaces – ideas that influenced architecture and public health policy at the time. Covid, though? So far, the public inquiry has focused more on WhatsApp messages and political drama than on the bigger lessons. But many Independent readers believe there were lessons, but we haven't necessarily learned from them. Before the pandemic, there were fears that people wouldn't cope with restrictions – that 'behavioural fatigue' would kick in and we'd all give up. That fear led to delays in lockdown and, in the end, cost tens of thousands of lives. But that view turned out to be wrong. Faced with a shared threat, most people acted with care and responsibility. Communities pulled together. Many went without seeing loved ones, missed work, lost income – all to protect others. Now, readers feel much of that collective effort has vanished. When we asked for your views, you told us that people no longer wear masks on public transport, and sick people are back in offices and schools. The things we learned – about clean air, proper sick pay, the importance of staying home when ill – are being forgotten, even though the virus hasn't gone away. Many of you told us that the return to 'normal' is anything but normal. You're frustrated by the lack of public messaging, the scrapping of protections, and the ongoing risks, especially from long Covid. Here's what you had to say: Covid is more like polio than flu Unfortunately, Covid is still here, still causing ill health and disability. Doing nothing is a false economy: in terms of impact, Covid is more like polio than flu – and we don't ignore polio. We don't need extreme measures, but good ventilation, FFP masks (especially in healthcare), HEPA filters in enclosed spaces like classrooms, wards, clinics and offices would all make a difference and aren't difficult. Reversing the removal of NHS vaccination from most groups, and ensuring access to vaccines and antivirals – the norm in other countries that are doing better – is essential. Multiple Covid infections, even if mild, increase the chance of complications, including cardiac, and damage the immune system, making it harder to shake off other infections. Long covid is now the most common illness in US children, and the UK is on the same trajectory, for the same reason. In children, Covid can cause metabolic dysfunction and lead to diabetes. This is all avoidable. Housemartin We know what to do – we're just not doing it We haven't learned anything. We need clean air in public spaces (especially schools and health settings); proper sick pay; to stop the ridiculous pressure to send infectious children into school; better public information about the benefits of masks and ventilation; use of high-quality masks where appropriate (certainly for people with symptoms, and routinely in healthcare settings and for travel); and vaccines available to anyone who wants one. Affordable tests should also be widely available. We know what to do to reduce the spread of Covid – we're just not doing any of it. Kittensarecute We didn't learn anything No, we didn't learn anything from the Covid pandemic. It was all done through panic. It wasn't handled right at all, money was wasted, and greedy firms faked the prices to make obscene profits. No medical authority had the faintest clue how to handle it. This must never happen again – separating families, causing misery and sheer panic. We have had pandemics before and will again. Lessons must be learned from that last fiasco and handled totally differently. People will catch it regardless of what they do; it cannot be avoided. Time for a total rethink from these so-called medical experts. Annieinthecastle Long Covid is the main danger The main danger with Covid is getting long Covid. The science says no one is immune to suffering from it, and it's likely a lifelong chronic condition that could end your ability to work. 3.2 million English people know that is what they are suffering from, and the number goes up every year. The only defence we really have against Covid now, since most of the vaccines have been withheld, is wearing an FFP2/3 respirator, which is hugely effective at stopping infection. These masks also stop hay fever and most other infections as well. People who have started wearing them haven't been sick in years. Paul Covid could be eradicated – but there's no will Covid-19 could be eradicated pretty easily in this country with ventilation, investment in proper HEPA infrastructure in all public buildings, a functioning vaccination programme, and – most importantly of all – those who can mask to wear FFP2 or FFP3 respirators when indoors anywhere. If the government could be bothered to protect our public health, it should lock down the country – properly – for a couple of weeks. With all that in place, it would disappear. There is no will or impetus among our leaders to protect us from this incredibly disabling illness. Bumblebee Covid is here to stay. There is growing consensus it probably escaped from a lab, and it will carry on rapidly mutating – picking off the vulnerable and elderly – saving governments a bit of cash, somewhat offset by the cost of Long Covid. I mask in shops but rarely see anyone else doing so. Sooner or later, a vicious strain will emerge, and we'll be back to square one. Galileo666 Learn from countries like Japan We should take the findings of other countries ahead of us into account – e.g. Japan on the spread of the virus – and improve ventilation of buildings, trains and buses... even doctors' waiting rooms in the winter! Jennifer Covid is an inconvenient fact Covid is an inconvenient fact that governments and the right-wing press prefer to suppress. Sadly, it's still very much around, and it's still killing the old, the very young and those with a compromised immune system. It's also leaving a trail of devastation in the shape of long-term damage caused by long Covid. And all of this relates just to people – there's also the impact on the economy. Drugs which would have enabled the immunocompromised to live normal lives (hundreds of thousands are still shielding) have been denied by the UK government to cut costs. Drugs like Paxlovid – literally a life-saver for any immunocompromised person unlucky enough to contract Covid – have been made near-impossible to access. The treatment of immunocompromised people by this government and previous ones is shameful. And to cap it all, there are still plenty of clowns around who somehow feel threatened by anyone taking the sensible precaution of wearing a mask, and feel the need to mock or display outright aggression. DavidM The conversation isn't over. To join in, all you need to do is register your details, then you can take part in the discussion. You can also sign up by clicking 'log in' on the top right-hand corner of the screen.
