Day one rights

Statutory Sick Pay is only payable to eligible employees after a period of four or more consecutive days of sickness.

The ERB removes this waiting period so eligible employees will become entitled to sick pay from day one of their sickness.

This is anticipated sometime after the ERB receives Royal Assent although a specific date has not been given. The change could be made before the end of 2025.

Employees who earn less that the lower earnings level are not eligible for Statutory Sick Pay.

The ERB will remove this lower earnings level, and will (via an amendment) confirm the amount that employees earning less than the lower earnings level will be paid as Statutory Sick Pay.

It is likely that following the consultation below, the amount employees will be paid who are below the lower earnings level will be confirmed in the ERB via the amendment process. We then expect the change to be implemented after the ERB has received Royal Assent although a specific date has not been given. Changes could be made before end of 2025.

Consultation for how much employees earning less that the lower earnings limit will be paid whilst on statutory sick pay. Consultation closed 4.12.2024.

Fact sheet outlining the Government’s intention with this provision.