25,864

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

The Problem: Nearly 2 million UK workers can't get sick pay because they don't earn enough. Even those who get sick pay find it too low at £116.75 a week, starting only from the 4th day of illness, meaning workers often can't afford to take time off and may face punishment for being sick.

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

Sign the open letter

Signers list

Andrew Barker
Alan Southall
Guyonne Folkers
Raji Kingman
Cathy Jansen-Ridings
Michele Guimarin
Timothy Kerr
Patricia Reilly
Luke Stephenson
Steve Admans
Shannon Stafrace
Daniel Cunningham
Paul Mcdonald
Colin Fripp
David Irvine
George Gornall
Mohammad Nazir
Samantha Wynne
Angela Ford
Andrew Bloomfield
Andrew Barnett
Laurie Stanley
Sharon Rooney
Ian Marsland
Suzanne Summerton
Sandra-Mae Lux
Jonathan Cuniowski
Janet Patterson
Darren Burkinshaw
Julie Blakley
Stephen Barr
Joyce Santangeli
Ann Stuart-Pillay
Christopher Kenny
William Thompson
Emilia Nadolska
Jade Ellison
James Gibson
Eve Warren
Bryan Ferry
James Gallagher
Liam Cowan
Kelly Hill
Peter Linden
Anne Walsh
Ian Byrne Mp
Tajammul Hussain
Martin Kibler
Yvonne Brimpong
Jeanette Penny

Safe sick pay for workers now!

Next step - spread the word

You're signing this as

Not you? Click here