Sick Pay: Low Paid Workers to Get 80% of Salary when Ill
Low-paid workers in the UK are set to receive 80% of their weekly salary as sick pay from the first day of illness, under government plans. Currently, to qualify for statutory sick pay, individuals must have been ill for more than three days in a row and earn an average of at least £123 a week. The change aims to keep more people off benefits and boost living standards.
- This landmark reform could help reduce the stigma associated with taking time off work due to illness, potentially leading to improved mental health outcomes among low-paid workers.
- How will the increased availability of sick pay impact the ability of small businesses to maintain competitiveness in the labor market?