Labour Court rejects Western Alzheimers’ proposal to cut sick pay

The Labour Court recommended that Western Alzheimers and the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union urgently review the current sick-pay scheme and absence monitoring. The recommendation was signed on 23 February 2017. The Court did not recommend conceding the employer’s proposal to standardise sick pay at three weeks, finding it would not significantly reduce costs. It was not in a position to recommend ending pay for the first two days of an absence or removing two self-certified sick days, and called for urgent engagement on those arrangements. On paid lunch breaks, the Court recommended discussions on working arrangements that would protect earnings as far as possible while allowing staff to take breaks free from work. The dispute also concerned basic pay reductions and hours of work.