19 March 2020
Whilst the Coronavirus situation unfolds, there are many things to be aware of to enable us to run our businesses and continue to work in the most effective manner. At UHY we aim to work with you, and our partners, to ensure that you are kept up to date on the latest business information.
Statutory Sick Pay
During the Budget last week, the Chancellor announced a new 2020 budget of £12 billion to support public services, individuals and businesses through the economic disruption caused by COVID-19.
As part of this budget, SME businesses (fewer than 250 employees) and employers can reclaim Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) paid for sickness absence due to COVID-19 (up to 14 days).
SSP will now be payable from day 1 instead of day 4 for eligible individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 or those unable to attend work because they have been advised to self-isolate by the Government. An equivalent to a fit note can be issued by NHS 111.
There is an overview of the budget and eligibility criteria here.
How you can further support your team
We are all facing an unprecedented challenge at the moment, and we want you to know you are not alone. You may need more HR support during this pandemic; from further advice on sickness protocols, to how to deal with greater difficulties such as staff disputes or redundancy.
Please know, you can turn to us during this time. Our HR services, via our Letchworth office's sister company HR Service Centre, can offer various levels of assistance from regular advice in the form of a monthly retained HR service, starting at £75 for up to 10 employees, or one-off consultancy time as you require it.
We have plans in place to ensure that no matter how the situation unfolds, we can offer you the support you need, when you need it. If you would like to discuss this, or any other HR matters, please contact the team at HR Service Centre on 0845 606 9640 or via their contact us form.
