Umbrellas to face large SSP Bill ?

[VelcroPower]

So there are now plans to pay SSP (Sick Pay) from day one and maybe without needing a sick note, now correct me if Im wrong but if Im off for 2 weeks and Im with an Umbrella, the brolly has to pay SSP ?

You are correct.

And they have to fund that themselves, they can't reclaim it back from the Government.

For those weeks they will effectively have to pay out the SSP and suffer the loss of the margin, could be tight for a few of them.

[andydd68]

So there are now plans to pay SSP (Sick Pay) from day one and maybe without needing a sick note, now correct me if Im wrong but if Im off for 2 weeks and Im with an Umbrella, the brolly has to pay SSP ?, even though they are only getting £10-£20 per week off employees....I bet many brollys were rubbing their hands with glee about the recent IR35 turn of events.......then along comes Covid-19.

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Back at the British Chambers of Commerce annual meeting today, health secretary Matt Hancock said he was working with the Department for Work and Pensions on a way to extend sickness benefit to all workers.

That could including contract workers and the self employed, my colleague Phillip Inman reports.

Asked about the issue, Hancock said.

“It is vital that the same approach applies to all workers,”

But the situation was not an easy one to resolve and talks were ongoing he added.

Yesterday, prime minister Boris Johnson said sick pay would be paid from day one -- but that won’t benefit the self-employed, gig economy workers, or some on low pay.

PM: workers with coronavirus will get sick pay from day one
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Earlier, the CBI said the government should extend Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) to all workers (e.g. agency staff and others on flexible or zero-hours contracts) who self-isolate themselves in accordance with public health guidance.

Among its demands were:

Clarifying in law that being unable to work because you’re self-isolating to comply with public health guidance - even if you are otherwise healthy - entitles a worker to statutory sick pay

Clarifying that workers who are following public health advice on Coronavirus are entitled to SSP even if they don’t have a GP’s ‘fit note’

Removing the need to earn over £118 a week to qualify for SSP, which is unfair to part-time employees. The Government proposed this in a 2019 consultation - which the CBI supported - and these plans should now accelerate

Introducing emergency relief for business – especially small businesses – if the total cost of sick pay becomes unsustainable. Small businesses may be particularly susceptible to cash-flow problems meaning that prompt reimbursement will be key to their ability to continue supporting staff.

From The Guardian 05/03/20