Sick Pay Calculator
Waiting days come off the front, unpaid.
Work out Sick Pay. Waiting days come off the front, unpaid. Names the misconception directly.
Days at the start that attract no pay under the scheme
Sick pay for the period
280.00
7 paid days at 40.00
Statutory sick pay schemes commonly have waiting days at the start that attract nothing, a flat weekly rate rather than a percentage, and a maximum duration. Occupational schemes often pay full pay for a period and then drop to the statutory rate. Enter the terms of your own scheme — the defaults here are illustrative.
How the Sick Pay Calculator works
Sick pay from a weekly rate, the days taken, the percentage your scheme pays and any unpaid waiting days at the start. Waiting days are the detail people miss when checking a payslip against what they expected.
Also known as: statutory sick pay calculator · ssp weekly amount calculator · how much sick pay will i get · sick leave pay with waiting days
Waiting days, and why short absences pay nothing
Most statutory sick pay schemes have waiting days at the start of an absence that attract no pay at all. Three is a common number. The consequence is that a two or three day illness is entirely unpaid while a two week one is mostly paid, which is not intuitive from the headline description of the scheme.
Linking rules soften this and are widely misunderstood. Absences separated by less than a defined interval are often treated as one continuous spell, so the waiting days are not served again. Anyone with a recurring condition should know their scheme's linking window, because it can be the difference between paid and unpaid.
This structure exists to discourage very short absences, and the design cost is that it falls hardest on people who cannot afford three unpaid days. It is one of the more consequential design choices in employment law and it is rarely described plainly in an employee handbook.
Statutory against occupational schemes
Statutory sick pay is generally a flat weekly amount rather than a percentage of earnings. The consequence is that the replacement rate falls as salary rises — the same cash figure replaces a large share of a low wage and a small share of a high one.
Occupational schemes are contractual and usually more generous: full pay for a period, then half pay, then the statutory rate, often with the durations scaling by length of service. This page's percentage input is designed for those, since they are the schemes that actually express sick pay as a proportion.
Knowing which you are on changes the arithmetic entirely. Someone assuming a percentage of salary when their scheme pays a flat statutory rate will plan against a figure that may be several times too high, and will find out at the point they can least absorb it.
Long-term absence and what sits beyond the scheme
Statutory schemes have a maximum duration — 28 weeks is a common figure — after which entitlement ends and longer-term incapacity or disability benefits may apply. The transition is rarely automatic and usually requires a fresh claim, at a point when making claims is hardest.
Employers sometimes carry income protection insurance covering a proportion of salary after a deferred period that lines up with the end of occupational sick pay. Where it exists it is one of the most valuable benefits in a package and one of the least discussed, so it is worth knowing whether yours has it.
Dismissal for long-term sickness is possible in most systems but heavily constrained: adjustments must usually be considered, medical evidence obtained, and a fair process followed, with disability protections potentially applying independently. Holiday also frequently continues to accrue throughout, which can produce a meaningful payment on termination.
Where to go next
The Sick Pay question rarely arrives on its own. These are the ones that usually come with it:
- Holiday Pay Calculator — Average pay, not base pay, if your earnings vary.
- Take Home Pay Calculator — Bands are inputs, because they change every year.
- Severance Pay Calculator — The weekly cap applies to statutory pay, not to notice.
- Loan & EMI Calculator — Monthly payment, total interest, and a full amortization schedule.
Not financial advice. This calculator is for planning and illustration, not financial advice. Real products carry fees, taxes, and terms it does not model. Confirm figures with your lender or a qualified adviser before committing.
Frequently asked questions
How is sick pay calculated?
Take the daily rate, apply the percentage your scheme pays, and multiply by the qualifying days after any waiting period. Ten days off with three waiting days and 40% pay gives seven paid days at 40% of the daily rate.
What are waiting days?
Days at the start of a sickness absence that attract no pay under the scheme. Statutory schemes commonly have three. They are why a short absence can be entirely unpaid while a longer one is mostly paid.
What is the difference between statutory and occupational sick pay?
Statutory sick pay is a legal minimum, usually a flat weekly rate rather than a percentage. Occupational schemes are contractual and often pay full pay for a period before dropping to the statutory rate.
How long can I be paid sick pay?
Statutory schemes have a maximum duration, frequently around 28 weeks, after which longer-term benefits may apply. Occupational schemes set their own limits, often scaled by length of service.
Do I need a doctor's note?
Usually only after a set number of consecutive days — seven is common — with self-certification before that. The threshold is set by the scheme and the jurisdiction.
Does sick leave affect my holiday accrual?
In many systems holiday continues to accrue during sick leave, and leave that could not be taken because of sickness may be carried over. The rules vary and have been the subject of significant case law.
Is statutory sick pay a percentage or a flat rate?
Most statutory schemes pay a flat weekly amount rather than a percentage of earnings, which means the replacement rate falls as salary rises. Occupational schemes are the ones that pay percentages.
Do waiting days apply to every absence?
Usually, though many schemes link absences close together so a recurrence within a set window does not restart the waiting period. The linking rules are where most disputes about sick pay arise.
What happens after statutory sick pay ends?
Longer-term disability or incapacity benefits may apply, and some employers have income protection insurance. The transition is rarely automatic — it typically requires a fresh claim.
Can I be dismissed for long-term sickness?
It is possible in most systems but heavily constrained: employers are usually required to consider adjustments, obtain medical evidence and follow a fair process, and disability protections may apply independently.
Does sick pay count as earnings for other calculations?
Often yes for tax and contributions, and it may be included in the reference period used for holiday pay. Whether an unpaid week is excluded from an averaging calculation is scheme-specific and matters a lot.
Do I accrue holiday while off sick?
In many systems yes, and leave that could not be taken because of sickness may be carried over. This has been the subject of significant case law and the rules differ by jurisdiction.
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