Amid much publicity, the Government has today launched its new ‘Test and Trace’ system in England. The system will notify people who have had contact with someone with COVID-19 and require them to isolate. Those affected will be entitled to receive statutory sick pay (SSP) under The Statutory Sick Pay (General) (Coronavirus Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2020. Alternatively, they can agree with their employer to take paid leave from their allocated holiday entitlement instead.
Previously, anyone who was self-isolating because they suspected they had COVID-19 symptoms was not eligible for SSP. Individuals identified as a result of Test and Trace will be required to isolate for a 14-day period and can receive SSP for that period. Employers are expected to be flexible in response and support those isolating. It should, however, be noted that the current rate of SSP is only £95 per week and as a result there is a risk of some employees not following the requirement to self-isolate following the new Test and Trace system.
Following the announcement, there have been some calls for the new SSP rebate scheme to be extended to all firms, particularly recruitment agencies which rely on the availability of temporary staff.
