Sick leave
Workers are legally entitled to paid time off work, including sick leave if you are unwell. This guide explains what sick leave is and what sick pay you're entitled to.
Sick leave is paid or unpaid time off work that employees can take when they’re unable to work because of illness, injury or a health condition, including mental health issues.
If you need to take time off sick, you can simply tell your employer you’re not well enough to work (self-certifying). You can do this for up to 7 days, including weekends.
If you’re off sick for longer than 7 days, you will need to get a fit note from a healthcare professional.
Sick pay is money paid to some workers who cannot work because of illness.
Some employers offer company sick pay, but everyone who qualifies must receive Statutory Sick Pay.
Statutory sick pay will be either:
- 80% of the worker’s average weekly earnings
- £123.25 per week
Eligible workers will be entitled to whichever rate is lower. It will be paid from the first full day of sickness absence.
Average weekly earnings will be calculated based on the 8 weeks before the sickness absence. Payments will be rounded up to the nearest penny.
A worker is eligible for statutory sick pay if they:
- have done some work for their employer
- have told their employer they’re sick within any deadline the employer has set or within 7 days
- are classed as employed for tax purposes
If someone is not eligible for statutory sick pay, their employer must tell them why in writing. They can do this in either:
- an SSP1 form
- a letter or email
Workers are legally entitled to paid time off work. Aside from sick leave, this includes other types of leave such as holiday leave, maternity leave, paternity leave, carer’s leave, bereavement leave and parental leave.