Study indicates companies unsure about managing SSP changes

The latest study shows the main issue companies have with the changes to statutory sick pay is managing them, rather than the underlying principles.

These changes see employees become entitled to claim statutory sick pay starting on the first day of their illness. The law previously mandated a waiting period of three days before it could be claimed. The study conducted by Brightmine indicates that 54.7% of companies believe the change will lead to rising costs from absence and illness. Meanwhile, 48.7% think it will increase the amount of time that line managers are forced to devote to problems relating to absence.

Companies are also expecting the change to have an impact on their HR departments. 51.3% of them told the study it will increase the amount of work for their HR teams. All of these concerns relate to change management, but getting help from outsourced HR services in Northampton would help to lighten the load.

Sheila Atwood works for Brightmine as its senior content manager. She spoke to Personnel Today:

“Our data suggests employers are less concerned about the principle of the reform than their ability to manage it consistently in practice, particularly when line managers lack confidence in how the rules work.”

This is a significant issue, as another finding in the study makes clear. It shows that close to half of the companies that took part consider line managers to be the ones who are most uncertain about the new rules. This could potentially lead to a flawed and inconsistent application of them.