Written by Harry Marshall Reading time: 2 mins
Before we dive into what locums get/don’t get let’s make sure we are all on the same page about what sick pay is.
Sick Pay: By law, employers must pay Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) to employees when they meet certain eligibility conditions:
they've been off sick or self-isolating for at least 4 days in a row, including non-working days
they earn on average at least £120 a week, before tax
they've told their employer within any deadline the employer has set or within 7 days
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is currently £96.35 per week - for up to 28 weeks.
How does sick pay work for umbrella company employees?
Your entitlement to SSP depends largely on how you are paid.
If you are using a Limited Company, you are not entitled to SSP. If you go off sick, you will not be paid by your employer for this time off, however, you can take a salary or a dividend from the company to support yourself through times you may not be working due to illness, as long as the business has the cash in the bank.
If you are using an umbrella or payroll company, then good news – you are entitled to SSP. When working through an umbrella company, you are deemed to be an employee and therefore entitled to all employee rights, which includes SSP. IF you meet the criteria laid out above, you will be entitled to £96.35 per week - for up to 28 weeks.
You MUST fully understand SSP and your umbrella company’s policies around it BEFORE signing any contract of employment. Do not leave it until you are ill. Some good questions to ask an umbrella company when you’re considering using them are:
How do I notify you of illness?
What are the deadlines involved with informing you if I am unwell?
Do I need any documentation/a doctor’s note to claim SSP?
How often would I be paid SSP?
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