Coronavirus: new statutory sick pay regulations extend entitlement
Details
New statutory sick pay (SSP) regulations were published and came into force today (6 July 2020).
In summary, the new regulations:
- extend entitlement to SSP to a worker who self-isolates because they are in a linked household (i.e. a social support bubble) with someone who has symptoms of COVID-19; and
- amend the rules concerning the SSP entitlement of extremely vulnerable workers (i.e. those who have been advised to ‘shield’), to confirm that a shielding notice can be overridden by a notice to end shielding, and that further shielding notices may then be given where necessary
This means that, in respect of coronavirus, the following workers are deemed to be ‘incapacitated’ for SSP purposes:
- Those with COVID-19 symptoms
- Those who live with someone with COVID-19 symptoms
- Those who are self-isolating as a household and develop COVID-19 symptoms
- Those who are in the same social support bubble as someone who has COVID-19 symptoms
- Those who are extremely clinically vulnerable and have been advised to shield (until shielding notice ends or is overridden)
- Those notified by track and trace service that they have had contact with an infected person
It is notable that SSP entitlement has not been extended to workers who need to undergo 14-days’ post-travel quarantine (see our article on this requirement). Although the list of countries that are exempt from this requirement from 10 July 2020, includes many popular summer holiday destinations.
For further updates and other articles discussing the impact of the coronavirus please view our coronavirus hub.
