Sick pay disaster forces sick employees to work as they can not afford days off
Low sick pay has pushed thousands and thousands of Britain’s frontline employees to the brink of monetary pressure, burnout, anxiety and despair, new analysis exhibits.
The analysis, compiled by monetary well-being specialists at Wagestream, follows latest calls from MPs and campaigners for pressing reforms to be made to the nation’s sick pay system.
The newest Low Pay Britain report highlighted that UK statutory sick pay “offers very little insurance against sickness, particularly when compared to other rich countries” – and is uncommon in being funded solely by employers.
Sick pay can also be disproportionately unfair to Britain’s lowest-income employees, which sees the 1.6 million who’re incomes lower than £123 every week deemed ineligible for any statutory sick pay in any respect.
As a end result, 1000’s of frontline employees admit fears they would wish to work by sickness as a result of the present laws means they’ll’t afford to take time without work.
Wagestream’s survey of two,000 respondents amongst a pattern of 500 UK employers additionally discovered that for 91 %, being signed off for simply two weeks would put them underneath monetary strain.
More worryingly, current sick pay laws implies that 1 / 4 (28 %) of respondents can be compelled to go with out heating or consuming if signed off for work for 2 weeks or extra.
The analysis additionally highlights the psychological well being impression that present laws inflicts. An absence of two weeks or extra would result in emotions of hysteria and or despair for 86 %, whereas nearly all (92 %) of respondents stated they had been frightened about burning out in the event that they need to work by sickness.
One respondent stated: “There have been instances where I was unable to afford to take time away from work and as a consequence was hospitalised.”
Another famous: “Having time off for a surgery required would jeopardise my ability to pay my mortgage let alone other bills. So I’m putting off the surgery and enduring the pain on a daily basis.”
Meanwhile, one other shared that they needed to take “an entire year’s holiday” once they needed to take three weeks off for a slipped disk of their neck, as Statutory Sick Pay wouldn’t cowl “any” of their payments.
At current, Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is value £109.40 per week and is paid to these eligible by their employer for as much as 28 weeks.
An overwhelming majority (84 %) stated that firm sick pay help is “one of the most important” advantages a UK employer can provide.
In response to the findings, Emily Trant, head of impression and inclusion at Wagestream stated: “The UK’s sick pay crisis requires urgent action on two fronts. Firstly, we need to ensure that no worker is left behind. It’s unacceptable that frontline workers pay more for basic services and on top of that are given less protection for their income. Secondly, it’s time to modernise policy and ensure employers aren’t left alone to solve the problem. ”
A report revealed by WPI Economics in July predicted that the financial system would obtain a £4.1billion increase if each employee on Statutory Sick Pay obtained the next fee of sick pay from their employer from day one. It additionally stated modifications may assist cut back financial exercise among the many UK workforce.
Last month, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported an financial inactivity fee of 20.4 %, which is 0.6 share factors greater than earlier than the pandemic.
Matthew Oakley, director of WPI Economics, stated: “The UK’s sick pay system is just not working. This evidence shows that reforms would be a win for workers, businesses and the Government alike. Even with a conservative approach to estimating the benefits of policy change, we found that these significantly outweigh the short-term costs.”
Sir Robert Buckland, MP for South Swindon, stated: “Improving workers’ sick pay is a win-win policy for Rishi Sunak, supporting hard-working people and boosting our post-pandemic economic recovery. The Government should act now on this welcome evidence in order to safeguard the future health and prosperity of our nation.”
Amanda Walters, director of the Safe Sick Pay Campaign stated: “Making sick pay available for everyone from the first day of illness should be a minimum guarantee if we want a healthy, productive workforce. We are asking the Government to act now on this important reform and ensure that hard-working people get the support they need to rest, recover and return to work.”