Advice Needed.... Sick Leave

The Guv

Hi, basically i am off work for the last two weeks after receiving 1st and 2nd degree water burns while at work. I am as such only a casual employee but am "paid through the books," and have worked for my current employer for about 10 years. My question is, that while my employer is paying my medical bills, should he be paying me towards my loss of work? - even if it is irregular from week to week?

We get on very well in general, but just want to know what i'm entitled to.

Thanks.

tenchi-fan

You have no automatic entitlement to sick leave regardless of the circumstances. You may be entitled to compensation.

Have a word with your employer, discuss what you think it fair and try to come to an agreement without resorting to the courts.

As for what you could get... you could even take the next 2 months off and claim loss of earnings as if you were working fulltime for the entire period if you can get a doctor to sign off on it. You could also sue for negligence, suffering, etc and you could get health and safety officers to start snooping around. The real issue is how far you are willing to go.

But to answer your question, you're probably not "entitled" to anything under employment law (although you are entitled to safe working conditions!), but you probably have a case against your employer under civil law.

mari2222

have you checked with social welfare?

Mrs OBumble

Because he was casual, Welfare's sickness benefit probably won't apply.

OP, if you're facing financial hardship because you can't work, try the Community Welfare Office - if you don't qualify for any other benefit, there's a thing called Supplementary Welfare Allowance.

Oh .. and in terms of your employer's liability: check out the Injuries Board. I know very little about how they work, just that they're an attempt to keep things like this out of the courts where money is simply wasted on lawyers.