Sick leave

Sick leave is time taken off work because of illness or injury. In the UK, eligible employees are entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) when they are off sick for more than three consecutive days.

Current SSP rules require employers to pay a flat weekly rate for up to 28 weeks. Employers can choose to offer company sick pay above the statutory minimum as part of their employment contract.

Managing sick leave effectively means:

• Recording all sickness absence accurately
• Monitoring patterns that may indicate underlying issues
• Planning cover for absent staff without relying on overtime
• Supporting employees returning from long-term sickness
• Understanding the Bradford Factor to identify problematic absence patterns

Frequent short-term sick leave can be more disruptive than longer absences. Using absence management software helps track patterns and plan cover.

AceRota tracks sick leave alongside other absence types, making it easy to manage cover and maintain accurate records.