Sickness Policy

Request

Copies of all current sick pay policies applicable to employees of our organisation. Specifically:

• Copies of any documents, handbooks, or guidance outlining entitlement to sick pay (including occupational sick pay schemes).
• Details of eligibility criteria, rates of pay, and duration of sick pay entitlement.
• Any separate policies or variations that apply to different staff groups, grades, or types of employment (e.g., permanent, temporary, agency, or casual workers).

Response

Thank you for your request which has been processed under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).

In your email you have requested copies of all current sick pay policies applicable to employees of our organisation. Specifically:

• Copies of any documents, handbooks, or guidance outlining entitlement to sick pay (including occupational sick pay schemes).
• Details of eligibility criteria, rates of pay, and duration of sick pay entitlement.
• Any separate policies or variations that apply to different staff groups, grades, or types of employment (e.g., permanent, temporary, agency, or casual workers).

Please see the following information extracted from the Gambling Commission’s Sickness and Absence policy. Please note, this applies to both fixed term contracts and permanent employees.

“22) Sick Pay a) We will pay statutory sick pay at the appropriate statutory rate to those who are eligible and comply with the notification requirements outlined in this policy.

b) Following completion of the contractual probationary period during which employees will be entitled to receive Statutory Sick Pay only, employees will receive pay for periods of sickness absence as follows:

i) Full pay, for up to six months

ii) and after that may receive half pay for six months

c) Time spent on unpaid leave will not count towards the qualifying periods.

d) Sick pay for part-time employees should be based on their normal rate of pay either for the regular hours that they have undertaken to work, or if their hours are irregular, on average hours over the immediately preceding quarter.

e) We may allow 12 months’ further sick pay beyond the limits set out in this procedure. This further sick pay is known as Sick Pay at Pension Rate (SPPR). Before SPPR is paid there must be medical evidence that there is a reasonable prospect of recovery. The rate will not be more than the rate of pension for which the employee would have qualified if they had been retired on ill health grounds on the day sickness absence was exhausted. SPPR does not reckon towards benefits under the Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS) but is increased in line with pension increase legislation.

f) Sick pay is calculated on a rolling 12-month continuous basis. The sick pay scheme does not have to be exhausted before decisions may be made about managing an employee’s absence in line with this policy and procedure including termination of employment.”

Review of the decision

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your Freedom of Information request you are entitled to an internal review of our decision. You should write to FOI Team, Gambling Commission, 4th floor, Victoria Square House, Victoria Square, Birmingham, B2 4BP or by reply to this email. 

Please note, internal review requests should be made within 40 working days of the initial response. Requests made outside this timeframe will not be processed.

If you are not content with the outcome of our review, you may then apply directly to the Information Commissioner (ICO) for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have already exhausted the review procedure provided by the Gambling Commission. 

It should be noted that if you wish to raise a complaint with the ICO about the Commission’s handling of your request for information, then you are required to do so within six weeks of receiving your final response or last substantive contact with us.

The ICO can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office (opens in new tab), Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.

Information Management Team
Gambling Commission