SSP entitlement versus UK bank holidays

Hi, I have an employee who is a Monday - Friday office worker and is paid for UK bank holidays as well as additional company entitlement. They were off sick from 21st - 27th December, returning 28th. Gave notice in time and has more than 8 weeks of earnings. According to the Gov.UK calculator the employee is entitled to SSP for 2 out of the 5 workings days they were unwell, however my colleague is disputing this because of Christmas Day and Boxing Day they are not to be considered qualifying days and therefore no SSP is due for this period of sickness. The online calculator doesn't account for bank holidays, it only asks what days in the week the employees normally works, but appreciate my colleagues point of view that you can't be paid both sick and holiday at the same time. So do I go by the online calculator or not on this occasion?

Hi,

You can see guidance below, specifically paragraph two which states that Bank Holidays do not interupt the normal pattern of qualifying days.

SPM110600 - Statutory Sick Pay (SSP): general information - qualifying days (QDs)

Thank you.