Claimant v Royal Mail Group Limited
Outcome
Individual claims
The Tribunal found that the Respondent's interpretation of the sick pay policy was correct: the claimant was entitled to a single additional period of up to 183 days industrial injury full sick pay, not a renewed entitlement every four years. The claimant had already received that entitlement in 2016. The reduction to half pay between 1-11 November 2024 was therefore in accordance with the policy, and there was no unlawful deduction.
Facts
The claimant, a post person employed since 2005, suffered an industrial injury in 2012 when attacked by a dog. She received 183 days of industrial injury full sick pay starting in 2016. Between May and November 2024, she was on sick leave again. After six months at full pay, her pay was reduced to half rate for 11 days (1-11 November 2024). She claimed she was entitled to full pay for this period, arguing the policy allowed a renewed 183-day entitlement every four years. The respondent argued she was entitled to only one such period per industrial injury, which she had already used.
Decision
The Tribunal dismissed the claim. It found the sick pay policy, read with supporting guidance and the respondent's consistent interpretation, entitled the claimant to a single additional 183-day period of industrial injury full sick pay per registered injury, not a rolling four-year renewal. The reduction to half pay was therefore correct under the policy, and there was no unlawful deduction of wages.
Practical note
Ambiguous sick pay policy terms should be interpreted in the context of supporting guidance documents and consistent organisational practice; tribunals will apply contractual interpretation principles but recognise that employment contracts are not negotiated in the same way as commercial agreements.
Legal authorities cited
Case details
- Case number
- 1403382/2024
- Decision date
- 6 October 2025
- Hearing type
- full merits
- Hearing days
- 1
- Classification
- contested
Respondent
- Sector
- logistics
- Represented
- Yes
- Rep type
- solicitor
Employment details
- Role
- Post Person
- Service
- 20 years
Claimant representation
- Represented
- No