Employer Update: Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme
Following on from our previous blog post where we discussed 'The Omicron Variant & The Workplace', it is evident that many employers and employees are still being hugely affected by COVID-19 and as such the topic of the Sick Pay Rebate Scheme has re-appeared. It has been announced that the Sick Pay Rebate Scheme will be reintroduced across the UK with effect from the 14th of January 2022.
The Scheme allows employers with fewer than 250 employees to recover up to two weeks' Statutory Sick Pay for each employee who is unable to work due to Covid-19 in relation to days of absence after the 20th of December 2021 (even if the period of absence began on or prior to this date). The Scheme also extends to employees who are absent due to a requirement to self-isolate. Employers must submit any relevant claims by no later than 24 March 2022. Employers can make more than one claim per employee, but they cannot claim for more than 2 weeks in total.
The online service employers will use to claim back Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is now available.
Employers are reminded that they must keep the following records for 3 years after the date they receive payment for their claim:
- the dates the employee was off sick
- which of those dates were qualifying days
- the reason they said they were off work – if they had symptoms, someone they lived with had symptoms or they were shielding
- the employee’s National Insurance number
Employers can choose how they keep records of their employees’ sickness absence but it is important these records are kept as the HMRC may need to see these records if a dispute was to arise in relation to over payment of SSP.
Employers will also need to print or save their state aid declaration (from their claim summary) and keep this until the 31st of December 2024.
Other Important Points for Employers to Note:
- It remains a criminal offence for an employer to knowingly allow a worker to attend the workplace when they are required to be self-isolating and as such it is critical that employers understand these new rules and review their policies and procedures accordingly.
- Employers are still under a duty of care to provide a safe system of work for their employees and this includes employees who are clinically vulnerable to Covid-19.
Related Articles:
- The Omicron Variant & The Workplace
- Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) & Isolation
