Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)

Starting in April 2025, Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) will change in several ways:

• Payment from day one

Employees will be eligible for SSP from the first day of illness, instead of the fourth day.?

• Remove of the LEL

Lower earners will be able to access some level of SSP Payment.?

• ?Rate

A percentage of the average weekly earnings will be due to those below the LEL

The changes are looking to prevent absenteeism, and minimising presenteeism. Both of which are detrimental to the workplace and by not getting the right level of SSP payments it may be more financially viable to stay off work or on the contrary, ?spreading illnesses across workforces, and debilitating larger groups of employees in succession.? Covid was a prime example as to how transmission of bacteria and viruses works, and this is true even for the common cold, flu so on and so forth.

The Labour government has committed to consulting with businesses, workers, and civil society before passing legislation.

The consultation regarding the rate of pay that should be applicable to those earnings below the LEL is currently open and the government are asking for recommendations regarding a fair percentage of the average weekly earnings for those earnings below the LEL.

The document and link to the consultation are available here :

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/making-work-pay-strengthening-statutory-sick-pay/making-work-pay-strengthening-statutory-sick-pay#strengthening-statutory-sick-pay

The document makes reference to different calculations as to how this should be fairly translated, and your input is being requested.

The models they have suggested could see SSP payments rising to 60% for those below the LEL, for example someone earnings ￡100 a week, could receive ￡60 in SSP

Currently at a rate of ￡116.75, this is around 25% of a 40 hour week at minimum wage, and with it being commonplace for employers to not offer enhanced contractual entitlements to full or half pay – much of the workforce is at the mercy of SSP rates.

Where do you think the SSP rate should sit?

The consultation closes on 4th December 2024.

How to respond

Please submit your responses via this?online form. If you have issues, please contact?[email protected].

If you would prefer to respond via email or post, please send your response to?[email protected]?or:

The Statutory Sick Pay Team Department for Work and Pensions Caxton House Tothill Street London SW1H 9NA