For months we’ve been campaigning with workers, The Centre for Progressive Change and other organisations on #SafeSickPay. We’re delighted that the Government has committed to:

✅ Introduce Statutory Sick Pay from day one of sickness – meaning every employee with an illness or injury will be entitled to SSP from the first day off work sick

✅ Remove the ‘Lower Earnings Limit’ – meaning 1.3 million workers who currently don’t receive any Statutory Sick Pay will now be entitled to sick pay

However:

❌ The rate of SSP is still far too low for workers to pay their bills – with people forced to push on at work risking their recovery and the health of their colleagues. No one can afford to take time off work to recover and pay their bills without financial burden on only £3 an hour. 

❌ One third of a million people are at risk of actually having their sick pay reduced because of problematic wording in the Government’s plans. Whilst it has been announced that low paid workers will receive 80% of their income when off sick, there are technical concerns that this will reduce the sick pay of up to one third of a million workers.

If the Government wishes to keep its promise to strengthen sick pay, it must raise the rate and protect workers from sick pay reductions. 

On Tuesday 11th March the Employment Rights Bill will reach Report Stage and MPs will be debating changes to sick pay. 

If you would like to add your voice to the campaign you can do so by contacting your MP asking them to support the #SafeSickPay campaign. Click this link to send a letter to your MP using a pre-written tool: https://bit.ly/RaiseSickPay