Should we introduce occupational sick pay?

Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is the government’s minimum level of pay for employees who are absent from work due to illness, as long as they meet the necessary requirements. Anything above this is discretionary and the decision of the company to implement within their organisation. You may wish to introduce OSP, especially due to the changes in England, from 24 March 2022 meaning that staff will no longer be entitled to SSP for self-isolation, unless they are not well, but again, this is your decision and not a legal requirement.

What do we do if an employee comes into the office with Covid?

If someone finds out they’ve tested positive or has Covid-19 symptoms when they’re at their workplace, they should tell their employer. In Scotland and Wales, if someone tests positive or has symptoms, they must go home and follow government self-isolation guidance. In England, if someone tests positive or has symptoms, they should check with their employer about self-isolating. When making a decision, the employer should consider the safety of other staff and follow guidance for people with COVID-19 and their contacts on GOV.UK. There is no longer a legal requirement for people with coronavirus infection to self-isolate, however, if they have any of the main symptoms of Covid-19 or a positive test result, the public health advice is to stay at home and avoid contact with other people.