Sick Leave: Coronavirus

(asked on 3rd September 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance her Department has published for employers on offering long-term sick leave to people suffering with long covid.


Answered by
Justin Tomlinson Portrait
Justin Tomlinson
This question was answered on 13th September 2021

Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is payable for up to 28 weeks per period of sickness absence. Sickness absences which are less than 8 weeks apart count as the same period of sickness. In a new period of sickness, employees are eligible for an additional 28 weeks of SSP. As such, where individuals remain sick or incapable of work as a result of coronavirus, including those suffering with long covid, they will be eligible for SSP, subject to the usual qualifying conditions.

The pages on Gov.UK provide extensive information and support to employees regarding the circumstances in which they may be eligible for SSP and what evidence they need to provide to their employer. Additionally, there is specific guidance for employers explaining which employees may be eligible for SSP and when employers should start paying SSP. There is a calculator to support employers to understand how much SSP to pay.

Reticulating Splines