Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure that workers who have been quarantined or who have self-quarantined as a result of covid-19 receive the sick leave to which they are entitled.

We will introduce, as part of the Department of Health’s emergency Bill, provisions for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) to be made from day 1 in relation to Covid-19.

We will set out full details when the emergency legislation is published.

Employers have been urged to make sure they use their discretion and respect the medical need to self-isolate in making decisions about sick pay.

SSP is a legal minimum and we encourage all employers to make these day-1 payments immediately.

We will work with employers and workers to ensure they’re supported to do the right thing, look after their staff and each other, and use their discretion to make the right decisions to protect public health.