Monthly Sick Pay: Waiting Days vs No Waiting Days
Compare monthly sick pay estimates with and without unpaid waiting days, and see how employer sick pay rates affect gross payroll results.
Monthly sickness pay can change for two separate reasons: some absence days may be unpaid waiting days, and eligible days may be paid below normal pay. These comparisons use the calculator's working-day daily-rate method to show the practical difference.
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About Monthly Sick Pay: Waiting Days vs No Waiting Days
Monthly sickness pay can change for two separate reasons: some absence days may be unpaid waiting days, and eligible days may be paid below normal pay. These comparisons use the calculator's working-day daily-rate method to show the practical difference.
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Comparisons
5
Key Factors
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Three unpaid waiting days versus no waiting days
Comparison for a £4,000 monthly salary, 22 working days, five sick days, and a 60% employer sick pay rate.
| Factor | Option A: Three Waiting Days | Option B: No Waiting Days | What It Means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal daily pay | £181.82 | £181.82 | Both options use the same salary and 22 scheduled working days. |
| Eligible sick pay days | 2 days | 5 days | Removing waiting days makes all five sickness days eligible for the selected rate. |
| Employer sick pay | £218.18 | £545.45 | More eligible days receive 60% of normal daily pay. |
| Estimated gross monthly pay | £3,309.09 | £3,636.36 | The no-waiting-days option has a higher gross-pay estimate. |
| Estimated reduction from normal pay | £690.91 | £363.64 | The difference is the value of three days that would otherwise be unpaid. |
With the same partial sick pay rate, unpaid waiting days lower estimated monthly gross pay because they do not receive employer sick pay.
60% sick pay versus 100% sick pay
Comparison for a £4,000 monthly salary, 22 working days, five sick days, and three unpaid waiting days.
| Factor | Option A: 60% Sick Pay | Option B: 100% Sick Pay | What It Means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible sick pay days | 2 days | 2 days | The waiting-day rule is the same in both options. |
| Pay per eligible sick day | £109.09 | £181.82 | The 60% option pays 60% of normal daily pay; the 100% option pays the full daily rate. |
| Employer sick pay | £218.18 | £363.64 | Full-rate pay produces a larger employer sick pay amount for the same two days. |
| Estimated gross monthly pay | £3,309.09 | £3,454.55 | Worked pay is unchanged, while sick pay is higher at 100%. |
| Estimated reduction from normal pay | £690.91 | £545.45 | The unpaid waiting days still create a reduction in both cases. |
Increasing the employer sick pay rate improves pay for eligible absence days, but it does not pay unpaid waiting days.
Partial sick pay with and without a waiting period
Comparison for a £2,800 monthly salary, 20 working days, four sick days, and a 75% employer sick pay rate.
| Factor | Option A: Two Waiting Days | Option B: No Waiting Days | What It Means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal daily pay | £140.00 | £140.00 | Salary and working-day inputs are identical. |
| Eligible sick pay days | 2 days | 4 days | Two waiting days remove half of the four-day absence from employer sick pay. |
| Employer sick pay | £210.00 | £420.00 | At 75%, each additional eligible day adds £105 of sick pay. |
| Estimated gross monthly pay | £2,450.00 | £2,660.00 | The no-waiting-days result is £210 higher. |
| Reason for remaining reduction | Unpaid waiting days and 25% unpaid share on eligible days | 25% unpaid share on all sick days | Both approaches have a reduction at 75%, but waiting days add an additional unpaid component. |
A waiting period and a partial sick pay rate can reduce pay at the same time; removing the waiting period removes only one of those effects.
Key Differences at a Glance
Waiting days determine how many sickness days qualify for employer sick pay.
The sick pay rate determines the amount paid for each eligible day.
A 100% rate restores normal pay for eligible days but does not automatically cover unpaid waiting days.
The same absence can have different gross-pay results under different employer policies.
The calculator uses scheduled working days, so daily pay changes when the number of working days entered changes.
How to Decide
Assumptions
- Each comparison spreads the monthly salary evenly across scheduled working days.
- Only employer sick pay at the entered percentage is included.
- Waiting days receive no employer sick pay.
- Sickness absence is capped at scheduled working days.
- Tax, National Insurance, pensions, statutory payments, and variable earnings are excluded.
Related Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Is no waiting period always better for the employee's gross pay?
For the same salary, absence, and sick pay rate, no waiting days produces more eligible paid sickness days in this calculator.
Does 100% sick pay mean the monthly salary will always be unchanged?
No. Unpaid waiting days can still reduce the result. With no waiting days, 100% pay on all sickness days produces the normal monthly salary in this model.
Which has a larger effect: waiting days or the sick pay rate?
It depends on the number of sickness days and the policy. Waiting days remove payment entirely for some days, while the rate changes payment on eligible days.
Can I compare two employer policies with the calculator?
Yes. Keep salary, working days, and sick days constant, then run separate estimates with each policy's waiting days and sick pay rate.
Does this comparison include statutory sick pay?
No. It compares employer sick pay estimates only and does not automatically include statutory or country-specific payments.
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