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

Susan Fitzgerald
Anne Mckeown
Roisin Morgan
Phil Hartel Kinzett
Sophie Elizabeth Pollard
Lou Ho
Joanne Howard
Eileen Wain
Richard Jenner
Andy Jones
Jennifer O'Neill
Helen Mulholland
Verna Francis
Kate John
Peter Howard
Nadine Clarke
Ulla Williams
Awad Bashir
Shafiq Bhatia
Ian Bayles
Mary Pennington
John Hirst
Laura Brown
Caroline Cameron
Rose H
Julie Norris
Efi Vassou
Wayne Carter
Paula Whitley
Jay Branston
David Cornford
Michael Studley
Assumpta Howard
Malaku Mavula
Charissa Martinkauppi
Michelle Latham
Robert Stanley
Christopher Brockwell
Elena Massucco
Andy Pearson
Jacqueline Scully
Helen Cagnoni
Mr Neil Austwick
Abbe Perkins
Michelle Sheppard
Jerry Oloniyo
Margaret Mackenzie
Nicola Collison
Emma Archer
Mark Brack

Safe sick pay for workers now!

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