Britons turn up to work despite ill health. These are your rights regarding sick pay
Millions of Britons that work for private firms admit that they come to work despite ill health, thinking that their bosses value their output more than they value their wellbeing. Nevertheless, you have the right to sick pay, and this is what you have to do in order to take advantage of your rights.
A report by insurance firm Aviva shows that seven in ten people turned up to work despite the fact they were feeling rather unwell, with less than a quarter of employees in private firms taking a day off work when sick. Moreover, more than two in five of 2,000 employees questioned declared their employer puts the results of the company ahead of their health and wellbeing.
“While every business wants the right level of resource in place, having employees who are unwell at work is a false economy. Businesses need to ensure they create a working culture whereby people do not feel pressurised into coming to work when they are unwell, safe in the knowledge their absence can be effectively managed. Presenteeism, driven in part by an increased ‘always-on’ culture, poses a genuine threat to overall business performance through the adverse impact on productivity and morale in the workplace,” said Dr Doug Wright, Aviva UK Health medical director.
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Employees qualify for sick pay if they earn more than £113 a week, are sick more than four days in a row, including non-working days and follow the employer’s rules regarding sickness absence. Unless you have been sick in the past eight weeks, you’re starting to get paid from the fourth day of sickness. Otherwise, you are paid right from the very first.
If you feel you are entitled to sick pay, but your boss thinks otherwise, ask them to fill this government form. Afterwards, contact the HMRC, which will get further information from you and decide whether you are actually owed sick pay.
If you are owed money, they will contact your boss in order for you to get paid and, if he refuses, you should contact the ACAS early conciliation service so that they would negotiate with him.
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