The Covid-19 Sick Pay Rebate Scheme is closing today (24th March). From tomorrow, retailers will no longer be able to claim back costs for sick pay issued due to Covid-19 between 21st December and 17th March.
Normal sick pay rules will apply for Covid-19 and other absences. This also means sick pay will no longer paid from the first day of absence. To be eligible for sick pay, colleagues must have been off work for at least 4 days in a row, including any usual non-working days.
This will bring into effect a key measure within the government’s Living with Covid-19 Strategy, previously published on 21st February.
The legal requirement to self-isolate following a positive Covid-19 test was removed in England on 24th February. From 1st April, the government will remove the health and safety requirement for every employer to explicitly consider Covid-19 in risk assessments. New public health guidance will be published to support this change. The timetable can be accessed in full here.
ACS advice and resources on Covid-19 are available at https://www.acs.org.uk/advice/covid-19-coronavirus
