General guide on whether employees are entitled to receive company sick pay

Many employees do not have to rely on statutory sick pay (SSP) as the company they work for has its own company sick pay scheme.

Details of a company's sick pay scheme should be included in the contract of employment or written statement of employment particulars.

Equally, if the company does not have its own sick pay scheme that should be made clear to a new employee.

A company sick pay scheme will usually be available to an employee after a minimum period of service, often a three-month probationary period.

The employee will then receive normal pay for any period off sick for a specified number of weeks.  If still sick after this time they will receive half pay for a further period, then any further time off for ill health becomes unpaid.  Some companies will also have a separate entitlement if the absence has been caused by injury at work or industrial illness.

As with SSP, employees should inform their place of work of any absence by phoning up and explaining the reasons why they are not at work.  However once a week has passed a doctor's note is usually required.

Employers should apply any sick pay scheme fairly, if they fail to do so an employee may have a claim for discrimination.