The UK government’s proposed Employment Rights Bill aims to extend statutory sick pay (SSP) to an additional 1.3 million workers. However, campaigners warn that the reform fails to address a fundamental issue: millions will still receive pay far below the minimum wage if they fall ill.
Currently, around 8.3 million workers in the UK rely on SSP, which amounts to just £116.75 per week—a fraction of what is considered a liveable income.
For those working 35 hours per week, this equates to just £3.33 per hour, significantly lower than the national minimum wage. With many facing financial hardship during illness, experts argue that the system remains among the weakest in Europe.
UK Statutory Sick Pay Among the Lowest in Europe
The UK’s sick pay system ranks near the bottom compared to other European nations. According to research by The Compensation Experts, the UK is 40th out of 42 European countries in terms of employer-paid statutory sick pay.
In most European countries, employers cover at least 50% of a worker’s salary during sick leave, with some nations such as Norway, Luxembourg, and Iceland providing 100% coverage.
Despite the UK government’s reforms, sick pay remains far below the cost of living. Dr Matt Padley, a social policy researcher at Loughborough University, warned that SSP is “not enough to live on”.
He added that workers relying on SSP for extended periods face severe financial strain, often forcing them to return to work prematurely, potentially worsening their health.
Financial Strain for Workers With Serious Illnesses
For many, statutory sick pay is not just a short-term inconvenience but a severe financial burden. Cancer patients and those with long-term illnesses are particularly affected. Danny Hine-Berry, diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 2022, was earning just £96 per week in sick pay at the time—a dramatic drop from his usual income.
“It left me in a lot of financial difficulty. And when you’re going through something like that, you should be able to focus on getting better. But instead, I had kind of all these worries and stress about money on top of my physical health problems.” he told The Independent.
Similarly, Alan Barton, an engineer diagnosed with bowel cancer, said that SSP amounted to just a fifth of his previous salary. “There were definitely times we were having to count pennies,” he said. Many workers in this situation are left with a difficult choice: return to work early or face financial hardship.
Campaigners argue that sick pay reform should ensure a minimum income aligned with the cost of living. While the government defends its changes as a step towards broader support for workers, critics maintain that without a significant increase in sick pay rates, many will continue to struggle when they need financial stability the most.
