Support if you're sick
Our sickness absence policy has your wellbeing in mind. As we continue to take a prevention-based approach to our services, this policy encourages you to take ownership for your wellbeing and to take early action which may prevent absence in the first instance.
It is focused around getting the right support at the right time, allowing managers to more effectively manage attendance and support you with your wellbeing.
Local Government employees' sick pay and entitlements
Subject to the conditions set out in the Scheme of Conditions of Service (which also deals with absence through injury), entitlement to sickness allowance depends on continuous service.
| Service at commencement of absence from duty | Full allowance for | Half allowance for |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 26 weeks | 0 weeks | 0 weeks |
| 26 weeks or more but less than 1 year | 5 weeks | 5 weeks |
| 1 year but less than 2 years | 9 weeks | 9 weeks |
| 2 years but less than 3 years | 18 weeks | 18 weeks |
| 3 years but less than 5 years | 22 weeks | 22 weeks |
| 5 years or more | 26 weeks | 26 weeks |
Sickness allowance will be your normal contractual pay inclusive of any Statutory Sick Pay which you may be entitled to. If you qualify for National Insurance Benefit including Dependants' Allowance, this will be deducted from full sick pay.
Pay during sick leave is the pay you normally receive, including working time payments and/or contractual overtime where you’ve been regularly in receipt of this type of additional payment, but excluding casual overtime and standby duty.
Craft employees' sick pay and entitlements
Subject to the conditions set out in CoSLA’s nationally agreed terms and conditions for Local Government employees (which also deals with absence through industrial injury), entitlement to sickness allowance will depend on continuous service as follows.
| Service at commencement of absence from duty | Full allowance for | Half allowance for |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 5 weeks | 5 weeks |
| More than 1 year but less than 2 years | 9 weeks | 9 weeks |
| 2 years but less than 3 years | 18 weeks | 18 weeks |
| 3 years but less than 5 years | 22 weeks | 22 weeks |
| 5 years or more | 26 weeks | 26 weeks |
Sickness allowance will be your normal pay inclusive of any Statutory Sick Pay to which you may be entitled. If you qualify for National Insurance Benefit including Dependants' Allowance, this will be deducted from full sick pay.
Pay during sick leave will be the pay you normally receive for your normal working week, including working time payments where you have been regularly in receipt of such additional payment, but excluding overtime, standby and callout, disturbance and callout because of contact payments.
Casual workers
If you’ve accepted an offer of work but you’re unable to attend because of sickness, you should notify your line manager as soon as possible so that alternative arrangements can be made.
You will only be paid for work undertaken and will not be entitled to the Council’s sickness allowance provisions. You may be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay if you satisfy the normal conditions that apply at the time.
Teaching
Sickness entitlements are outlined in the SNCT Handbook (Part 2: Section 6 - Sickness allowances and notification arrangements) for colleagues who fall under Scottish National Committee of Teachers (SNCT). This includes
- educational psychologists
- education support officers and
- music instructors
- quality improvement officers
- teachers.
Sickness allowance will be your normal contractual pay inclusive of any Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) to which you may be entitled. If you qualify for National Insurance Benefit including Dependants' Allowance, this will be deducted from full sick pay. Pay during sick leave will be the pay you normally receive.
Industrial injury
If you’re absent due to sickness or disablement because of an incident arising out of or during employment, or due to an industrial disease, you’ll be paid an industrial injury allowance calculated on the same basis as sickness allowance.
Employee wellbeing
We offer an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) and an occupational health service.
Once you start in your role you can access our intranet pages and find information on PAM Wellness, our EAP, that you can reach out to if you need support, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This service also provides self-help resources you can use to help you stay well or use when you have a problem and need some support.
If required as part of sickness absence, your manager may refer you to occupational health. In each of these cases your manager will have explained why you've been referred and will have given you a copy of the referral form before you attend your appointmen