Can I keep my company car whilst on long term SSP

[knock4six]

I have recently been diagnosed with an auto immune condition and about to start a course of drugs which will keep me off work for 3 months. My company paid me last month full pay but are now putting me on SSP. I could really do with keeping the car so I can get around and down to the hospital. Do I have a right to keep the car whilst off sick as I am still employed by the company.

Hopefully 3 months should be all I need off sick but there is a possibility it could be slightly longer depending on how treatment is going?

Many Thanks in advance.
Knock4six

[zig.zag]

i believe that while on the sick youre still technicly

so i would say yes

[buildersmate]

The legal answer is that it is going to depend on what your contract of employment says. Not just the bits of paper received by you over the time you have been employed, but also the published policies by the company that have become part of your T&Cs of employment.
You are still an employee of the company, so if you can find that it says you will be provided by a car as a benefit, and there ISN'T anything in the sick pay scheme details that says you will only receive SSP (and no other benefits) after x weeks paid sick leave, then you are probably home and dry.
Having checked out what you can, I would broach the subject with the employer. At the end of the day, if you are a valued employee it is perfectly OK for them to agree you retain the car over this period - even if technically (legally) they could remove it.

[Panic Button]

I would do the opposite - not ask the question.

I would keep quiet and keep the car.

As it is allocated to you, they won't miss it.

[factor-fiction]

You may need to read any paperwork about the provision of the car. The employer may have said it retains the right to withdraw the car at any time at its discretion. If the car is needed for business the employer may need to allocate it to a temporary replacement for you. I think it's unlikely though.

[mccfluffy]

check with your employer first. My first question to you would be - are you ok to drive and i would want a letter from the gp to support that. if everything is ok then our policy would let you keep the car and the situation would be reviewed on a regular basis.
Don't forget the tax issue We have an employee who has had an op and is off work for 3 months and i advised her to return the car as she then would not be paying the tax on it for the three months. mind you hers was an arm op so she can't drive anyway!

[dundurn]

The other factor you may need to take into consideration is what effect are the drugs having on you that prevents you from working? Does it also affect your ability to drive safely? If so you may invalidate your insurance.