25,855

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

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Signers list

Mike Cowley
Andrew Rogers
Sue Mills
Eloise Smith
David Boyd Arnott
Roxy Khan-Williams
Hannah Stephenson
Cheryl Lineham
Chloe Goble
Richard Wilson
Heather Payne
Diane Clark
Pam
Yvonne Wootton
Myra Illingworth
Amanda Cunliffe
Lindsey Mitchell
Lars Olofsson
Massimo Toesca
Lisa Bambrough
Kelvin Jones
Kim Weston
Emma Roderick
William Inskip
Tracy Mccartney
Leigh-Ann Wilkins
V M Taylor
Amanda Whittaker
Jesus Cristovao
Emma Forsyth
Arthur Robert Macpherson Fraser
Nicola Hartley
Yulia O'Neill
Roger Hill
Vaidhussen Acbaraly
Nicola Day
Mark Seward
Lilian Longworth
Mark Rice
Sheena Ellum
Sara Whiteside
Patricia Mckay
Staceyandrews Andrews
David Young
Christopher Edwards
Mandy Davies
Lois Jackson
Andy Hollister
Clare Sander
Michael Smedley

Safe sick pay for workers now!

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