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Trade union body the TUC has urged the government to support workers who do not qualify for statutory sick pay (SSP) as the coronavirus spreads.

People on low incomes, zero-hours contracts and the self-employed are among those who may not qualify.

The government has warned up to 20% of the workforce may be off sick during the peak of a coronavirus epidemic.

The government said benefits would be available for those who are not eligible for SSP.

Boss Frances O'Grady told the BBC: "Unless we sort out our sick pay rules and make them fair, many workers are going to face that invidious choice of do they pay the bills, put food on the table, or do they follow government health advice to self-isolate if they've got symptoms?

"No-one should be out of pocket for doing the right thing."

Statutory sick pay (SSP) is £94.25 per week and can be paid for up to 28 weeks. To qualify, a worker must earn at least £118 per week and it is only paid from the fourth day of sickness.

But the TUC estimates up to two million workers don't earn enough to qualify.

The fear is many will not get paid, or will be tempted to go in to work despite being ill, potentially worsening infection rates.

'Discretion urged'

Those affected include the self-employed, who are not entitled to sick pay, and those on zero-hours contracts whose rights vary from employer to employer.

However, experts say that if you are a casual or agency worker you should qualify.

"Employers have been urged to make sure they use their discretion and respect the medical need to self-isolate in making decisions about sick pay," a the Department for Workk and Pensions said.

"Anyone not eligible to receive sick pay is able to claim Universal Credit and/or contributory Employment and Support Allowance."

'Be generous'

The TUC is asking for SSP to be offered to staff from the first day of sickness, and regardless of how much a person earns.

It also wants the payments to be raised to the level of the National Living Wage, which is £8.21 per hour for over-25s. That would give people £287.35 for a 35-hour week.

In addition, the TUC said it wanted those asked to self-isolate by their employer to be paid in full and for an emergency fund to be set up to help struggling firms.

Some employers, such as pub chain Wetherspoons, have said normal SSP rules will apply for staff who have to self isolate, but others such as bakery chain Greggs say they will pay workers in full.

The CIPD, the human resources trade body, is also urging the government to step in.

"We think there may be a case for the government to create some sort of compensation or hardship fund to help individuals such as the self-employed, temporary or low paid staff if they are not eligible for sick pay or paid leave.

"This could help people in less secure employment get through these exceptional events and would minimise the risk of people coming into work and spreading the virus if they have been exposed," said Ben Willmott, head of public policy at the CIPD.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has indicated that sick leave rules could be changed to allow people to sign themselves off work for two weeks in response to coronavirus fears.

Mr Hancock told MPs the issue was "under review" given the current situation meant a person must give their employer a doctor's note if they were ill for more than seven days.

Acas, the independent arbitration service, has said it is "good practice" for employers to treat self-isolation as sick leave or agree for the time to be taken as holiday.

"Otherwise there's a risk the employee will come to work because they want to get paid," it has said.