Try GOLD - Free

Millions of workers face £3 an hour sick pay despite bill

The Independent

|

March 09, 2025

Campaigners urge government to do more in new legislation

- ALICJA HAGOPIAN

Millions of workers face £3 an hour sick pay despite bill

The UK will still have some of the worst protections for unwell people in the developed world despite the government's new bill on employment rights, leaving 8.3 million contracted workers with the equivalent of as little as £3 an hour.

Campaigners are calling on the government to go further on sick pay and make rates more liveable as the Employment Rights Bill is put to a vote in parliament next week.

imageCurrently, around one in four workers in the UK – around 7 million people – are only entitled to receive statutory sick pay (SSP) instead of enhanced sick pay from their employers. SSP amounts to a fixed rate of just £116.75 per week, or £467 per month, for eligible workers.

Dr Matt Padley from Loughborough University warns that the current rate of statutory sick pay is “not enough to live on” and says the knock-on effects are numerous. “Anyone having to rely on SSP for any length of time is likely to see a substantial drop in their income, and if they are unable to return to work for several months, the gap between income and what’s needed to live with dignity will grow,” the social policy researcher told The Independent.

“At the same time, cost-of-living pressures continue and the rate of sick pay – already very low – will fall further and further short of meeting basic material needs.”

The government announced it is extending sick pay to workers earning under £123 a week from day one of their illness. Staff will be paid 80 per cent of their average weekly earning or £116.75 statutory sick pay, whichever is lowest.

While this will mean an extra 1.3 million people will be eligible for the statutory sick pay rate under the changes in the Employment Rights Bill, 8.3 million people in the UK will still receive far less than the living or even minimum wage if they fall sick.

MORE STORIES FROM The Independent

The Independent

The Independent

Trump deserves praise for Gaza - if he sees it through

Go to Kosovo today, and among men in their mid-twenties you will find a disproportionate number of them named Tonibler.

time to read

4 mins

October 12, 2025

The Independent

The Independent

Where should I go during Cambodia backpacker trip?

Q Friends have come back from Cambodia raving about the place as a backpacker destination. In your opinion, what highlights should I absolutely not miss?

time to read

1 mins

October 12, 2025

The Independent

The Independent

A decade of pain before endometriosis is diagnosed

At just 12 years old, a terrified Zaynah Ahmed lost so much blood during her period that she was left in a life-threatening condition and needed an urgent blood transfusion.

time to read

3 mins

October 12, 2025

The Independent

BREAK THE SILENCE

Olivia Petter was made to feel she should ignore an incident with a stranger in a dressing room, but after bureaucratic hurdles and a police investigation, she finally felt vindicated

time to read

7 mins

October 12, 2025

The Independent

The Independent

Hull KR thrash champions Wigan for Grand Final win

Hull KR completed an historic treble after battering defending champions Wigan 24-6 in a pulsating Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford.

time to read

2 mins

October 12, 2025

The Independent

The Independent

Blair met Epstein while he was PM, documents reveal

Sir Tony Blair met with Jeffrey Epstein in Downing Street while he was prime minister, after lobbying from Peter Mandelson, documents have revealed.

time to read

2 mins

October 12, 2025

The Independent

The Independent

Nobel Peace Prize winner dedicates award to Trump

Venezuelan opposition leader and the newly awarded Nobel Peace Prize winner has dedicated her win to Donald Trump for his “decisive support” in her country’s fight for democracy.

time to read

2 mins

October 12, 2025

The Independent

The Independent

Fury as Taliban bars women from press event in India

The Taliban reportedly barred women journalists from attending a press event of visiting Afghan foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in India, drawing anger from a wide section of Indian reporters, activists, and politicians.

time to read

4 mins

October 12, 2025

The Independent

The Independent

'Here is ur diagnosis': Is this Labour's vision for the NHS?

Sitting in the middle of an office was not how I had ever envisaged being told that I have a long-term health condition, but that’s where I was when I received the following message - original typos included:

time to read

3 mins

October 12, 2025

The Independent

The Independent

Starmer 'planning to blame Farage' for Budget tax hikes

Sir Keir Starmer is reportedly gearing up to blame Nigel Farage and Brexit for Britain’s expected downturn in productivity at the Budget, as part of a new attack on the Reform UK leader.

time to read

2 mins

October 12, 2025

Listen

Translate

Share

-
+

Change font size