25,868
of 50,000 signatures
To Liz Kendall, Secretary of State for the Department of Work and Pensions and Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health
Workers should not have to face the tough choice between our health and earning enough to live.
The current sick pay system jeopardises the health of all working people and puts added strain on the NHS. 87% of Organise members admitted going into work while sick and 84% of us have got a cold or other illness while at work. Increasing numbers of workers being sick is not only bad for the economy but damaging to workers' short term recovery and long term health and wellbeing. Many workers simply cannot afford to take time off work and in some cases face disciplinary action when they are off sick.
Open letter text
Dear Liz Kendall,
New data has shown that over 96% of us could not support ourelves and our familie on only £116.75 week. This issue cannot be ignored any longer.
Workers desperately need a change to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) legislation so that:
👉🏽 Everyone is eligible for sick pay - by removing the earnings threshold
👉🏽People receive sick pay from day 1 rather than day 4, and
👉🏽Workers can afford to take the time off, by increasing SSP so that it is in line
with a worker’s wages.
Fixing sick pay would create more flexibility for employers, and prevent those in low-paid and precarious work from being forced out entirely.
With the cost-of-living crisis, our flawed sick pay system is putting millions at risk. We urge you to pass new laws to make sick pay better for everyone. This will create a safer, healthier work environment and support workers in need.
Notes:
Organise survey: Safe sick pay survey https://the.organise.network/surveys/safe-sick-pay-survey
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Safe sick pay for workers now!
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Safe sick pay for workers now!
