In certain circumstances workers have a legal right to pay for time when they do not work. These are absences authorised by statute, such as paid holidays and Statutory Sick Pay.
Your contract of employment may contain express terms detailing other authorised absences for which you may be paid. Details will be in your contract, or in the written statement of particulars which sets out your terms and conditions of employment. Your employer must provide you with this written statement within 8 weeks of starting work.
Other absences count as unauthorised absence. Failure to pay wages for unauthorised absence is a legal deduction from wages.
