Workers affected by the coronavirus are now entitled to Statutory Sick Pay from day one when self-isolating, rather than day four, it has been announced.
The changes form part of the Government’s emergency action plan designed to prevent the spread of the disease.
The action plan comes after it was revealed that the total number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK hit 90.
Under the temporary measure, the statutory rate of sick pay, paid for by employers, will be available from the first day of self-quarantine. Importantly, it is available to workers suspected of having the virus, as well as those clinically diagnosed. The Government said the measure should persuade people to take time off work, rather than risk spreading the disease throughout the workplace.
Commenting on the announcement, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said “no one should be penalised for doing the right thing”.
“I can today announce that the Health Secretary will bring forward, as part of our emergency legislation measures, to allow the payment of Statutory Sick Pay from the very first day you are sick instead of four days under the current rules.
“We are not at the point yet where we are asking large numbers of people to self-isolate, but that may of course come if large numbers have the symptoms.
“If they stay at home, they are helping to protect all of us by preventing the spread of the virus.”
Meanwhile, Ben Willmott, head of public policy at the CIPD, recommended that employers be “as generous with their sick pay and leave policies as possible, both to support staff health and wellbeing, and to minimise any impact on their pay”.
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