Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008
Agency workers who have a contract or a series of contracts for three months or less now have the same right to statutory sick pay (SSP) as other workers – subject to them meeting the usual qualifying conditions.
The entitlement applies to any new period of sickness that started on or after 27th October when the regulation came into effect.
It will not apply to a period of incapacity for work that started before that date.
Employers must pay the SSP in the same way and at the same time as any wages to which the agency worker would be entitled.
The qualifying rules for SSP remain the same and continue to apply.
The full title of the new regulation is the Fixed-term Employees (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 [SI 2008 2776].
© Copyright 2008 Burt Brill and Cardens Solicitors