ISM calls for full sick pay for teachers affected by COVID-19

The Incorporated Society of Musicians, the UK’s professional body for musicians, has called on music education hubs to ensure that all those who are engaged for work are paid sick pay equivalent to their normal wages where there are school or music centre closures, or where work is lost for any reason linked to COVID-19 coronavirus.

In a press release issued on 4 March, Deborah Annetts, ISM chief executive, said: ‘Many peripatetic teachers are employed or engaged by music education hubs on basic terms and conditions or zero-hour contracts which do not provide workers with adequate sick pay. When such teachers are instructed to self-isolate, they are considered ‘off sick’. However, their entitlement to sick pay may be very limited. Indeed statutory sick pay is only £94.25 per week – and for teachers who are engaged by music education hubs on zero-hour contracts there is a risk that they may not be eligible for statutory sick pay. So music teachers could very easily find themselves without pay through no fault of their own.’

‘Therefore we are calling on music education hubs to ensure that all those who are engaged for work are paid sick pay equivalent to their normal wages where there are school or music centre closures, or where they are off for any reason linked to COVID-19.’

The ISM is also calling for teachers to, where possible, work in a different, appropriate setting, such as providing online tuition, in cases where self-isolation might be instructed so that the progress of their students is not hampered and they can continue to learn as normal.

Since the COVID-19 virus outbreak, the ISM has received many enquiries relating to the impact of the virus on musicians’ livelihoods. ISM members who are affected by COVID-19 in the course of their work are advised to get in touch with the ISM legal team at legal@ism.org. 

Updated COVID-19 advice from the ISM can be found at ism.org/advice/coronavirus-stay-informed.

The ISM is consulting with the charity Music Mark, a membership organisation whose members include music education services and hubs, their teaching and support teams, subject associations, schools and higher education bodies. 

Founded in 1882, the Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM) is a not-for-profit UK professional body for musicians and subject association for music. The organisation campaigns for the rights of musicians, music education and the profession as a whole, providing legal advice and representation, insurance and services to a membership of approximately 10,000 musicians across the UK and Ireland.