The government has relaxed previous rules, which meant workers were required to show their employer a GP-signed sick note after seven days to receive sick pay or benefit payments.
The public services union Unison issued a note telling its members: “The UK government has made a temporary change to the provision of ‘fit notes’ until 27 January 2022. If you go off sick on or after 10 December 2021, employers can only ask employees for proof of sickness (such as a fit note) after 28 days of sickness (including non-working days).”
Meanwhile Unite told members: “Proof of sickness cannot be requested earlier than 28 days.”
Making sick pay more readily available is thought to be crucial to ensuring people self-isolate and avoid spreading the virus.
The government offers some people on low income a £500 Test and Trace Support Payment if they are told to isolate.
This story is from the January 09, 2022 edition of The Independent.
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This story is from the January 09, 2022 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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