Work injury: do you get full pay?

Many UK workers ask: do I get paid if I have an accident at work? The answer isn’t straightforward. Your employer might not be legally required to maintain your full salary, but you do have rights to work injury sick pay UK and possibly compensation. This guide explains exactly what you’re entitled to, from statutory sick pay UK to additional benefits. Workplace injuries create enough stress without adding money worries. For the best protection of your financial rights, speak with a workplace injury solicitor as soon as possible.

Discover exactly what compensation you’re legally entitled to, beyond what your employer might tell you, in this guide to workplace injury pay rights.

Do you need a solicitor?

We will connect you with the right solicitor, near you.

Find a solicitor near me Request a call

What counts as a workplace injury in the UK?

The legal battlefield between “genuine workplace injury” and “sorry, that’s on you” has specific boundaries.

Injuries that qualify for compensation include:

• The crash in the company van.
• The lungs damaged by construction dust.
• The wrist that’s failing after years of typing.
• The office chair that snapped while you sat.
• The hearing you’ve lost to factory floor noise.
• The toxic cleaning fluid that splashed your skin.
• The anxiety breakdown after workplace trauma.
• The back that gave out lifting those heavy boxes.
• The warehouse ladder that collapsed beneath you.

“Workplace” isn’t just your desk; it’s anywhere your job sends you: construction sites, client homes, highways during deliveries, or even your kitchen table during WFH.

What the law forces your employer to do when you’re injured at work

When workplace injuries happen, employers have specific legal duties they cannot ignore.

Your employer must:

• Investigate what went wrong.
• Make reasonable adjustments for your return.
• Record all accidents in the official accident book.
• Avoid treating you unfairly because of your injury.
• Keep your job open during reasonable recovery time.
• Report serious injuries to the Health & Safety Executive.
• Carry employer’s liability insurance (minimum £5 million).

Your pay rights after a workplace injury

Beyond their health and safety duties, employers have specific financial responsibilities when you’re injured at work.

When you suffer a workplace injury compensation UK, your financial entitlements include:

• Payment for reasonable medical expenses directly related to your workplace injury.
• Compensation for personal items damaged during the accident (glasses, phones, clothing).
• Continued pension contributions during your sick leave period, maintaining your retirement benefits.
• Potential access to occupational health services paid for by your employer to support your recovery.
• Full payment for the day the injury occurred, regardless of when during your shift the accident happened.
• Travel expenses for medical appointments in some cases where treatments are directly connected to your work-related injury.
• Do you get full pay if injured at work UK? Only if your contract provides it through contractual sick pay. Check your employment agreement for enhanced terms that many larger employers offer.

The government’s safety net: Statutory sick pay explained

When your employer’s generosity runs dry, statutory sick pay UK becomes your financial lifeline after a workplace accident.

For work injury sick pay UK through the statutory scheme, you must:

• Earn an average of £125 per week before tax.
• Not be receiving certain other benefits that conflict with SSP.
• Not have received the maximum 28 weeks of SSP in a 3-year period.
• Provide a “fit note” from your doctor for absences exceeding 7 days.
• Not be in specific excluded categories (maritime workers, armed forces).
• Have reported your injury according to your company’s sickness procedure.
• Have been ill for at least 4 consecutive days including weekends and holidays.
• Be classified as an employee with a contract (not self-employed or a “worker”).

The payment arrives through your normal payroll with important limitations:

• Current rate is £118.75 per week (for 2025/26).
• Paid for up to 28 weeks for the same illness or injury.
• No payment for the first 3 days (called “waiting days”).
• Paid on your normal payday with tax and National Insurance deducted.
• Continues during holidays and can span multiple tax years.
• Stops if you return to work, even for a single day.
• Can restart if you become ill again within 8 weeks of previous absence.

Beyond sick pay: Other money you can claim after work injuries

When statutory sick pay UK falls short, these additional options can help bridge the financial gap:

• Accident insurance payouts: from personal policies you may have purchased.
• Council Tax Reduction: lessens your tax burden during periods of reduced income.
• Critical illness coverage: if your workplace injury meets your policy’s severity criteria.
• Universal Credit: means-tested support if your household income falls below minimum thresholds during recovery.
• Personal Independence Payment: helps with extra costs of long-term disability regardless of income or savings (up to £184.30 weekly).
• Employment and Support Allowance: provides financial support when you’re unable to work and aren’t entitled to SSP, with assessment phase rates of up to £90.50 weekly.
• Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit: tax-free weekly payments for long-term injury or illness caused by your job, with amounts from £44.30 to £221.50 depending on your disability percentage.
• Workplace injury compensation UK through a personal injury at work claim: covers lost earnings, medical costs, and pain and suffering when your employer’s negligence caused your injury (typically paying 2-3 times more than benefits alone).

FAQs

• Can I be fired while receiving sick pay after a workplace injury? Dismissal while on injury-related sick leave likely constitutes unfair dismissal and disability discrimination unless your employer can prove legitimate reasons unrelated to your injury.
• What if my employer refuses to pay statutory sick pay after my workplace accident? Contact HMRC’s statutory payment dispute team. They’ll investigate and can force payment if you qualify.
• How is compensation calculated for a workplace injury compensation UK claim? Compensation combines injury severity payments (using judicial guidelines) plus specific financial losses including lost earnings, medical costs, care expenses, and impact on quality of life.

The machinery of workplace injury compensation won’t automatically deliver what you deserve. From statutory sick pay UK to full compensation claims, the system favours those who know their rights and act decisively. Don’t settle for financial struggle while healing; the right legal guidance transforms recovery from survival to stability.

Secure your full workplace injury compensation!

Qredible’s’ network of specialised workplace injury solicitors fights for your full entitlements, not just the minimum your employer offers.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Workplace injuries qualify for statutory sick pay UK at £118.75 weekly, but this falls significantly below full wages for most workers.
• Beyond sick pay, injured workers can access multiple compensation streams including personal injury claims, Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, and other state support.
• A solicitor significantly increases compensation amounts by properly valuing your claim and navigating complex legal requirements.