Fit for work
When a key member of staff takes sick-leave it can be very expensive for your business. You are required to pay that person statutory sick pay (SSP) once he or she has been absent from work for four days. Also you can’t reclaim any of the SSP paid for periods since 6 April 2014.
However, there is good news. From 1 January 2015 you can get a tax deduction for the cost of medical treatments that help your workers get back to work, and the first £500 of such treatment is tax and NI free for each employee.
To qualify for this tax-free treatment the staff member must have been absent from work because of sickness for 28 days or more, or be expected to be absent for at least that time. The treatment must be recommended in writing as part of an occupational health assessment undertaken by a healthcare professional, and it can include a range of interventions such as talking therapies for stress conditions or physiotherapy for physical injuries.
One way to get an occupational health assessment for your employee is to apply through the website: fitforwork.org. That website also offers other advice for employers and employees about sickness absence.
