Sick Pay: Is it a Yes or a No?

James Kimmingsin Golf

We wanted to determine the consensus on sick pay within the turfcare industry. 

Some in the industry receive full pay and others have to sacrifice holiday. We took to social media to try and find out more: 

It seems that statutory sick pay is a more common approach: “Nothing. If you don’t have holiday or hours owed to take its statutory sick pay” wrote a greenkeeper.

Another added: “No sick pay, unfortunately.” 

Some seemed shocked by this: “I can't believe people are having to cover sick with their holiday time. No wonder people leave greenkeeping.”

However, one user suggested that some clubs pay in full: “We get paid as normal, but we have never had anyone off longer than a week in over 20 years.”

One head greenkeeper commented: “We get full pay regardless of how long. A past GM tried to impose a system of 'at his discretion' otherwise statutory, this, among other things he did, didn't sit well with us at all.”

Some reflected how Covid has changed the landscape: “We have mandated 5 days sick pay forced on employers by the government since COVID.” 

One looked at the bigger picture: “To be fair, this seems less a “Greenkeeper industry” issue, and more a “workers rights” issue for everyone in the UK. It seems mad to the point of scandalous that full-time employees should have to dip into their holiday allowance when they’re sick, and it should be illegal for employers to even suggest it.”

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