Will sick pay be available from the first day of sickness?

Yes. One of the key reforms to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is the removal of the current three-day waiting period.

Under the previous rules, eligible workers were generally required to be off sick for at least four consecutive days before SSP became payable, with payment starting from the fourth day of absence. Under the new arrangements, eligible workers will be entitled to SSP from the first day of sickness absence.

The change is intended to provide workers with financial support as soon as they are unable to work due to illness and to reduce the pressure on people to attend work when they are unwell.

The reform applies to Statutory Sick Pay. Employers that provide occupational sick pay schemes may continue to offer more generous arrangements.

What this means for union reps

• Members should be able to access SSP more quickly when they are unable to work because of illness. The change may be particularly important for lower-paid workers who are most affected by short-term losses of income.
• Reps may need to help members understand when SSP becomes payable and how it interacts with any occupational sick pay scheme provided by their employer.
• Union-negotiated sick pay arrangements may still provide better protection than the statutory minimum, making collective bargaining on sick pay an important issue.