25,867

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

Emma Jenkins
Donna Frost
Ginette Markwick
Garry Dring
Tari Atwal
Stephen Cullinane
Jean Boxall
Man Yuen
Tony Wilson
Sharon Driscoll
Ann Joseph
Geoff Fletcher
Madeleine Boulesteix
John M Klosinski
Sophie Rolfe
Geoff Owen
Parmjeet Matharu
Martyn Jones
Alfredo Fantozzi
David Reames
Carolyne Jenner
Heather Collins
Jim Fisher
Ann Jungmann
Lorraine Shaw
Shirley Stewart
Alan Kenney
Jane Lewis
Helen Mcleod
Stephen Searle
Charlotte
Mr J R Wakelin
Sarah James
Jarek Irvine
Adela Fiscutean
Anne Mccormick
Musa Hussein
Anthony Mc Vey
Séamus Donnelly
Nicola Collins
Amjad Nazir
Paul Ives
Simon Tostee
Okanmiyin Amuwa
Sharon Gadbury
Zaida. Hussain
Carole Malone
Margaret Manning
Malcolm Spillett
Emilia Patterson

Safe sick pay for workers now!

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