In Secession Ltd t/a Freud v Bellingham EAT/0069/05, the Employment Appeal Tribunal holds that the tribunal was entitled to imply a term to the effect that an employee with no written contract had the right to be paid in full during periods of sickness absence.
Where a contract of employment does not specify a limit to the duration of sick pay, it does not continue indefinitely but only for a reasonable period, holds the EAT, in Howman & Son v Blyth. However in deciding what is a reasonable period, Tribunals should consider the limit specified in a national agreement in the relevant industry.