Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Government plans to extend Coronavirus regulations containing measures on Statutory Sick Pay and self-isolation payments beyond March 2022.

The pandemic was an unprecedented situation. We needed people to self-isolate while protection was built up through our vaccination programme and we developed a range of new treatments. As a result, during the pandemic we made temporary changes to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) to support people to follow COVID rules and keep others safe.

The Living with Covid-19 Plan confirms that from 24 March the Statutory Sick Pay (General) Regulations 1982 and the Statutory Sick Pay (Coronavirus) (Suspension of Waiting Days and General Amendment) Regulations 2020 will be amended to remove the COVID-19 provisions. Pre-pandemic SSP rules will then apply.

It's up to employers to determine their sick pay policies and many employers choose to pay more than the minimum level.