Increase in Statutory Sick Pay to Benefit Lowest Paid in Workforce

More than one million of the lowest paid workers are to be guaranteed sick pay worth up to 80% of their weekly salary from the first day of sickness as part of changes intended to boost living standards.

- Sarah Butler

The UK has one of the "stingiest" rates of statutory sick pay in the developed world, according to the Resolution Foundation thinktank, with those earning less than £123 a week not entitled to anything. For the rest, the rate is set at just £116.75 a week, rising to £118.75 - or £3 an hour - for full-time workers from April, but that will only kick in after three days of sickness.