Under the current legislation, workers and employees are not entitled to statutory sick pay for the first three days of sickness in any eight week period.
Boris Johnson has announced today that emergency legislation is being put in place to mean SSP will be paid from the first day off work, not the fourth. The aim is to help those self-isolating, who are protecting others from the virus, from not being “penalised for doing the right thing”.
Jeremy Corbyn has questioned whether the announcement will help those currently not eligible for SSP, such as those on zero hours contracts, earning less than the £118 per week or the self employed.