The majority of the education workforce enjoys enhanced contractual sick pay provisions. However, there are some staff for whom statutory sick pay will apply, either because they have exhausted their contractual provisions or because they are not covered by the enhanced provisions. Often these people are the most vulnerable employees.

We wish to see adequate protections for the most vulnerable and to ensure staff feel able to seek medical attention where that is the most appropriate course of action.

It is ASCL’s view that any additional employer costs which fall to schools and colleges as a result of the Employment Rights Bill must be covered through increases to funding. As public sector bodies, schools and colleges are not able to pass any associated costs on to ‘customers’ and it is not acceptable that these costs should come at the expense of the education of children and young people.

Full response to consultation