Despite upcoming changes to UK employment law, millions of workers will still receive statutory sick pay (SSP) at rates far below the minimum wage, campaigners have warned. The Employment Rights Bill, set for a parliamentary vote next week, has been criticized for failing to address the financial struggles of ill workers.
Currently, 8.3 million contracted workers rely on SSP, which provides just £116.75 per week, leaving many in severe financial difficulty when unable to work due to illness.
Statutory Sick Pay in the UK: The Numbers
How Much Do Workers Get?
- SSP currently stands at £116.75 per week (equivalent to £3.33 per hour for a 35-hour week).
- Those working 40 hours a week receive even less – around £2.91 per hour.
- From April 2025, SSP will increase slightly to £118.75 per week, but this still falls far behind inflation levels.
How Does the UK Compare to Europe?
- The UK ranks 40th out of 42 European countries for employer-paid statutory sick pay rates.
- The UK’s SSP is just over 25% of the weekly minimum wage for full-time workers.
- In contrast, most European countries require employers to cover at least 50% of a worker’s salary when they are sick.
- Iceland, Norway, and Luxembourg offer 100% salary coverage during sick leave.
The Human Impact of Inadequate Sick Pay
Many workers suffering from serious illnesses struggle to pay their bills while receiving only a fraction of their normal income.
Danny Hine-Berry: Cancer Diagnosis and Financial Struggles
Danny Hine-Berry, diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 2022, received just £96 per week—less than a third of his normal earnings.
“When you’re going through something like that, you should be able to focus on getting better. Instead, I was stressed about money on top of my health problems,” he told The Independent.
Despite working in retail for six years, he was only given full pay for two weeks before being placed on SSP.
Alan Barton: Terminal Cancer and Financial Hardship
Alan Barton, an engineer diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2023, took three months off for surgery. However, his SSP only covered a fifth of his regular income.
“There were times we had to count pennies,” he said, highlighting how the financial strain added to the stress of dealing with a terminal illness.
Employment Rights Bill: What’s Changing?
The UK government’s Employment Rights Bill introduces some changes to the sick pay system:
- Sick pay will now be available from day one for those earning under £123 per week.
- These workers will receive either 80% of their weekly earnings or £116.75, whichever is lower.
- This expansion will make an additional 1.3 million workers eligible for sick pay.
However, critics argue these small adjustments fail to tackle the core issue—the low rate of SSP, which remains unlivable for most workers.
While the Employment Rights Bill makes some improvements, the fundamental issue of low statutory sick pay remains unresolved. The UK continues to lag behind most of Europe, with many workers forced into financial hardship when ill. For those battling serious illnesses like cancer, inadequate sick pay adds mental and emotional stress to an already difficult situation.
Campaigners continue to call for reforms that would bring UK sick pay in line with European standards, ensuring that no worker is left struggling when they need to focus on their recovery.
