Question regarding sick pay

Fromvert

A friend a mine was out of work a couple of weeks ago for a week. He had a serious neck infection and got a doctors note. He received 3 days of sick pay for the week he missed. On returning to work he was told by his boss that the only reason he received the sick pay because he didnt want him to be broke for the week he missed and that he would take the sick pay out of wages over the next few weeks. He argued with his boss about this and was told if he doesnt like it leave. He told me this today and I advised him to seek legal advice. He is an apprentice plumber third phase and doesnt want to take legal action as more than likely he would have to leave his job and in the current climate he would be out of work with it next to impossible to find work.

Any advice would be welcomed.

dats_right

Specific legal advice is not permitted on this forum and I'm sure somebody will point you to the Charter in this regard. If your friend wants legal advice he should intruct his own solicitor.

Nonetheless, as a general proposition there is no legal entitlement to be paid 'sick leave' in this country. It is entirely a matter for individual employers to decide their own rules. So unless sick pay is provided for under a contract of employment then in all likelihood there is no entitlement to be paid for same, but even where there is no sick pay scheme in place some employers will still pay an employee and deduct the sick days as holiday days.

Fromvert

sorry bout that just read the sticky
thanks for the information, very helpful.
A mod should probably lock this then.