illness benefit deductions from wages

Doom

Can anyone tell me if a company has the right to deduct all the illness benefits from your wages.
Illness benefit is paid for 6 days, should a company only take 5 days worth?
Thanks.

Clive

Doom wrote: »

Can anyone tell me if a company has the right to deduct all the illness benefits from your wages.
Illness benefit is paid for 6 days, should a company only take 5 days worth?
Thanks.

It's quite common for companies that pay staff while off sick. I asssume you''re getting full pay less any DSP benefit?

It should be outlined in your contract/employee handbook etc, but deducting a week of illness benefit from a week of wages leaves you in the same place, so the length of the week, 6 days versus 5 days makes no difference.

Mrs OBumble

What does your contract say?

Doom

I know if the company pays you, you'll not be down money.
What I'm asking is it 'right' for a company to do this?
In my opinion I don't think illness benefit should be paid for 6 days, and if you work 5 days only, the company should be reimbursed 5 days only.

therecklessone

Doom wrote: »

I know if the company pays you, you'll not be down money.
What I'm asking is it 'right' for a company to do this?
In my opinion I don't think illness benefit should be paid for 6 days, and if you work 5 days only, the company should be reimbursed 5 days only.

I think you might be getting confused?

Illness benefit is not paid for the first six days of any claim, after that it is paid on a weekly rate (and I presume on a pro rata basis if your qualifying absence is for a period of less than a week)

Doom

therecklessone wrote: »

I think you might be getting confused?

Illness benefit is not paid for the first six days of any claim, after that it is paid on a weekly rate (and I presume on a pro rata basis if your qualifying absence is for a period of less than a week)

Yes I know its not paid for 1st six days.
They pay for six work days €188 /6 days =€31.3....€31.3 is the daily rate.

Clive

Doom wrote: »

Yes I know its not paid for 1st six days.
They pay for six work days €188 /6 days =€31.3....€31.3 is the daily rate.

If the employer deducted five days only then it would be more profitable to be off sick for a week than in work.

The daily rate is only relevant when an employee returns within the week.

Doom

I'm asking is it right that a company deducts 188 per week (6 days illness benefit) when your contracted to work 5.
Now...I'm not looking to pocket the 6th day payment, but why should the company. I think they should deduct 5 days worth only.
And the government should only pay 5 days too.

Mrs OBumble

Doom wrote: »

And the government should only pay 5 days too.

Personally, I agree.

But if that's not the policy, then you should take it up with your TD.

And as to how much the company should take, that's totally up to your contract. Though TBH i'd be surprised if they're going to make fiddly distinctions based on number of days/per week that an IB covers: if you're getting paid anyways, then lucky you and you're not out of pocket.

therecklessone

Doom wrote: »

I'm asking is it right that a company deducts 188 per week (6 days illness benefit) when your contracted to work 5.
Now...I'm not looking to pocket the 6th day payment, but why should the company. I think they should deduct 5 days worth only.
And the government should only pay 5 days too.

I wasn't aware that the DSP considers a week to be six days, thanks for that.

The DSP pays a rate of €188 per week. If they now changed to 1 week = 5 days they would simply change the daily rate to 188/5 = €37.60, no? Benefit payees and/or companies would still receive the same amount for each week. The exchequer would end up out of pocket however for all instances of qualifying absence of <6 days (and all subsequent parts of weeks)