What do Employers & Employees really know about sick pay?
Posted on 25th May 2021 at 15:11
According to new research by Group Risk Development (Grid), half of employers are yet to comply with sick-pay legislation that came into force on 6 April 2020!
That legislation requires employers to inform their staff of their entitlement to paid sick leave from day one – or even before they join.
Katharine Moxham, a spokesperson for Grid, commented:
“While we all know employers have had a lot on their plates over the past year – and we appreciate this is one more thing for them to think about – not complying with this legislation is a missed opportunity to engage with staff exactly what that support looks like in practice.”
Katherine added:
“Every employer will know the expense of recruitment, in terms of both time and resources, when staff leave for pastures new. This legislation means that those companies who truly value their employees and demonstrate that by supporting them when they are absent, are more likely to win the battle to recruit and importantly, retain, the best talent.”
What does the legislation provide?
The legislation provides an opportunity for all employers to display their support and care for the wellbeing of their workforces. Many employees believe that their employers will keep paying them, if they’re unable to work: in reality, countless employers will only pay Statutory Sick Pay of £96.35 a week for up to 28 weeks.
A Group Income Protection (GIP) benefit scheme will enable employers to show full support and care for the wellbeing of their employees. Furthermore, a GIP is a relatively inexpensive means to assist employees, emotionally as well as financially.
Providing a GIP benefit scheme will show employees that their employers are not just complying with the law: they are going beyond the legal requirement doing what’s best for their staff, making them feel more secure, happier an satisfied with their jobs.
If an employer will not add a GIP to the employee benefits package, an employee should consider taking out a personal Income Protection Plan: the bedrock of all financial planning should be to protect the one thing that pays for everything else in life – one’s income.
Do you know what your employee benefits are?
Whether you've started a new job or been in your current role for a while, it's important to know what benefits your employer will provide if you should die or become too ill to work. Read our blog..
Below is an interesting article that I would like to share that was published in the Health & Protection publication
Article by: Graham Simons
Health & Protection Publication, 5 May 2021
Lawyers urge employers to be clear on sick pay and health benefits from day one
Employers should be as clear as possible with employees about sick pay and health insurance benefits from day one, according to employment lawyers.
Melanie Stancliffe, partner at law firm Cripps Pemberton Greenish, was commenting on findings from a Grid survey which shows half of UK employers are failing to comply with legislation introduced last year on sick pay.
The Employment Rights (Employment Particulars and Paid Annual Leave) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 (SI 2018/1378) require employers to tell their staff, on day one of employment or before, what their entitlement to any sick pay is.
But Stancliffe told Health & Protection while there was little publicity about the new rules last year as firms contended with the pandemic and lockdown, those who fail to comply face fines of £300 plus £60 for each day they do not provide the information.
“Even the £3,000 fine for the non-payment of sick pay doesn’t seem to be at the forefront of decision-makers’ minds,” she said.
“Best practice is that employment terms should be set out before an employee joins. To avoid liability for failing to provide the detailed terms, businesses should definitely set out the key terms of employees and workers, like sick pay, on their first day.”
And while insurance benefits are not usually available until probationary periods have been passed, Stancliffe adds it would be right for the business to mention the employee will receive cover later if they satisfy the insurer’s rules.
“The advantage of private medical insurance schemes are the accessibility to employee assistance programs to support staff with mental health issues, quick medical treatment and a swift return to work – benefits that are only available if the staff are made aware of them.”
More information required
Commenting further on the requirements, Jacqueline McDermott, partner at Keystone Law, told Health & Protection it compels all new employees starting on or after 6 April 2020 to be provided with a written Section 1 (S1) statement including certain particulars on day one of employment.
Previously the statement had to be provided within two months of commencing employment.
“The S1 statement includes information that was not previously required to be given to the employee in writing, including details of any benefits they may receive, training requirements and types of paid time off.
“The S1 statement can refer the employee to a reasonably accessible document where some of the information can be obtained, such as entitlement to sick pay. Details of which can be included in a staff handbook.
“For employees who started work before 6 April 2020, the requirement to provide the information arises if an employee requests an S1 statement, in which case it must be provided within one month. In my experience this is very rare or if there is any change in any of the particulars that would have been given in the S1 statement.
McDermott added that in her experience many employers were simply unaware of the changes or they did not have the resources to deal with them.
“This is particularly the case for SMEs. Many are aware there have been changes but do not know what they are and haven’t got round to dealing with it,” she continued.
“Many SMEs do not have a dedicated HR function and may have appointed someone responsible for HR matters but who may not be an HR professional. The issue may only hit their radar when they take on a new employee and seek advice, but not all do.”
For more information on Income Protection Insurance, please contact
Nigel Osgood, Independent Mortgage Broker & Insurance Adviser
E: info@income-protector.co.uk
T: 01628 594433
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Tagged as: Group Income Protection, Income Protection Insurance
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