Changes to statutory sick pay in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

New regulations in force from 28 March 2020

New regulations have been issued that provide for changes to statutory sick pay (SSP) in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

In force from 28 March 2020, the Statutory Sick Pay (Coronavirus) (Suspension of Waiting Days and General Amendment) Regulations 2020 (SI.No.374/2020) -

• disapply (retrospectively from 13 March 2020) the rule that SSP is not payable for the first three qualifying days of a period of entitlement (known as 'waiting days') where an employee is incapable of doing the work they can reasonably be expected to do under their contract of service, or where they are deemed to be incapable, because of coronavirus; 
• insert a Schedule into the Statutory Sick Pay (General) Regulations 1982 to provide that people with symptoms of coronavirus staying at home for 7 days, and people living in the household of a person with symptoms of coronavirus staying at home for 14 days, can be deemed to be incapable of work.

NB - corresponding provision in Northern Ireland is made by the Statutory Sick Pay (Coronavirus) (Suspension of Waiting Days and General Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (SR.No.54/2020)

SI.No.374/2020 and SR.No.54/2020 are available from legislation.gov.uk