THE UK government has published new guidance on a scheme to reimburse employers the cost of statutory sick pay for staff members who are either self-isolating or unwell due to COVID-19.
The Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme will enable employers with fewer than 250 staff members to recoup the cost of up to two weeks statutory sick pay for current or former employees who are on full or part-time contracts, flexible or zero-hour contracts, and agency contacts.
Employers are advised to keep a record of all statutory sick pay claims, including the reason for an employee’s absence; the start and end dates for the period of sickness; the employee’s contracted working days through which they qualified for statutory sick pay; and the National Insurance numbers of all employees who received statutory sick pay as a result of coronavirus. Employers must keep these details for at least three years following the claim.
The scheme – which is not yet open for applications – will cover periods of sickness starting on or after March 13.
