Sick pay
Sickness absence happens when employees are not well enough to work, whether that is in their usual workplace or by working at home.
The sickness absence policy (PDF, 210KB) provides guidance and support to employees and line managers in effectively managing and addressing sickness-related absences.
Sick pay
You’re entitled to sick pay if you need to take time off work due to a physical or mental health issue and you’ve got an employment contract with the council.
Sick pay is financial support for when you’re not well enough to work. For example, if you have a short-term illness or injury, or if you need longer-term recovery such as undergoing medical treatment or managing a long-term condition.
Sick pay allowance
You may receive a sick pay allowance based on your length of service with the council, up to the maximum allowance, subject to circumstances and business needs.
If you have more than one year of continuous service with the council, you may be eligible for contractual sick pay (see table below). Part of your sick pay is usually made up of Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), which will be shown on your payslip.
If you have worked for the council for less than one year or if you exhaust your contractual sick pay, you may receive SSP for up to 28 weeks. SSP begins from the fourth day of sick leave. Learn more about Statutory Sick Pay on GOV.UK.
Your allowance is calculated on a rolling 12-month basis. This means we will review the amount of sickness absence you have taken in the last twelve months to determine your pay.
| Length of service | Full pay (months) | Half pay (months) |
|---|---|---|
| During the 1st year | Statutory sick pay only | Statutory sick pay only |
| 1 to 2 years | 1 | 1 |
| 2 to 3 years | 2 | 2 |
| 3 to 4 years | 3 | 3 |
| 4 to 5 years | 4 | 4 |
| 5 years or more | 5 | 5 |
If you use up your sick pay allowance
Payroll will write to you let you know at each stage when your pay is going to be reduced to half pay, SSP and no pay.
If you are not entitled to SSP or if your SSP runs out, you may be able to claim for Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). In this situation, Payroll will send you the appropriate forms so you can make a claim.