Payment during sickness absence depends on an employee's length of service on the first day of absence. During the first 3 months of employment, employees are entitled to receive Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) from the first day of sickness. All employees are eligible to receive SSP, regardless of their earnings. Where an employee's weekly earnings are below the current , SSP will be paid at 80% of their normal weekly earnings.
From the beginning of the fourth month of employment with the university, enhanced occupational sick pay entitlement applies as follows:
Enhanced Occupational Sick Pay Entitlement
| Length of Service | Full Pay | Half Pay |
|---|
| First year after 3 months |
8 weeks |
8 weeks |
| 2nd year & 3rd year |
13 weeks |
13 weeks |
| 4th year & 5th year |
21 weeks |
20 weeks |
| After 5 years |
26 weeks |
26 weeks |
Example 1
John commenced at the University on 1 January. His first day of sickness was 1 March and his absence lasted for 3 days. He returned to work on 4 March. John only received statutory sick pay (SSP), which is payable from the first day of sickness, regardless of the length of absence.
If an individual is absent for an extended period and their length of service entitles them to a different level of entitlement, this is not activated until their return to work.
Example 2
Julie commenced at the University on 1 October 2022. Her first day of sickness was 21 September 2025 and her absence continued for 4 months, returning on 4 January 2026. At the start of her absence, her entitlement was 13 weeks' full pay and 13 weeks' half pay. Even though her entitlement changed on 1 October 2025, to 21 weeks' full pay and 21 weeks' half pay, she was only paid 13 weeks' full pay (and 4 weeks' half pay). She did not progress to the next level of entitlement until she returned to work.
Entitlement is calculated on a rolling 12 month basis, so all sickness absence in a 12 month period is included for the purposes of the calculation.
Example 3
Sarah commenced at the University on 1 August 2024. She was off sick from 3 September 2025 until 3 October 2025 when her entitlement was 13 weeks' full pay and 13 weeks' half pay. In the 12 months prior to her first day of absence, she had been off sick, at different times, for a total of 11 weeks. During her sickness she was, therefore, only paid for 2 weeks at full pay and the rest at half pay.
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is paid up to a maximum of 28 weeks, unless the absence is linked i.e there has been absence in the previous 8 weeks. During periods of full pay SSP is paid concurrently. During half pay, SSP is paid in addition to Enhanced Occupational Sick Pay (OSP).
If an individual has exceeded both their full and half pay entitlement - for example 8 weeks' full pay and 8 weeks' half pay - SSP continues to be paid up to the 28 week limit.
Last edited Apr 07, 2026