17 March, 2020 Open access
17 March, 2020 Open access
New statutory instrument
New legislation has been issued in relation to statutory sick pay (SSP) regulations to take account of updated public health guidance on coronavirus.
In force from 17 March 2020, the Statutory Sick Pay (General) (Coronavirus Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (SI.No.304/2020) amend regulation 2 of the Statutory Sick Pay (General) Regulations 1982 to reflect the date of the latest public health guidance (issued on 16 March 2020) relating to coronavirus. It ensures that a person who is following that guidance and isolating themselves is deemed to be incapable of work, and therefore entitled to SSP.
The explanatory memorandum to the regulations advises -
'These regulations refer to guidance issued by Public Health England, NHS National Services Scotland and Public Health Wales in relation to coronavirus on a particular date. The original regulation [SI.No.287/2020] reflected the guidance as at 12 March. This regulation reflects the fact that the guidance was updated on 16 March. As and when this guidance is updated again, these regulations will need to be amended accordingly as a matter of urgency.’
NB - the new regulations will cease to have effect eight months after 13 March 2020 (the date that the original regulations came into force).
SI.No.304/2020 is available from legislation.gov.uk
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