Who the absence policy applies to

An employer can pay contractual sick pay to someone who doesn’t qualify for SSP, from day one of their sickness, whatever they earn. However, employers must at least comply with SSP rules by paying eligible employees (see page 87).

There are distinct arrangements for some agricultural workers, workers on casual, zero hour contracts and agency workers, educational term-time workers, and employees with more than one job (see Chapter 5). Employers are free to negotiate or apply sick pay schemes that are more generous and more inclusive than the law requires, provided that they at least provide the statutory minimum.