Sick pay ruling victory

In February 2012, unions at Central Manchester University Hospitals Foundation Trust secured an important victory, defeating attempts by the Trust to dock pay from workers who took too much sick leave. The Trust introduced a new rule for employees who were sick on four or more occasions a year or 18 days. Unions lodged tribunal cases on behalf of scores of staff who were not paid their incremental rise. An employment tribunal ruled that the deductions were unlawful and the Trust withdrew the Policy.

General secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, Dr Peter Carter said: “Put bluntly, we feel it is outrageous that an employer should attempt to withhold payments simply because a member of staff is sick”.