Most care workers cannot afford to take time off sick, survey shows

Your support helps us to tell the story

Support Now

Find out moreClose

As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.

Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.

Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election

Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

Nine out of 10 care workers cannot afford to take time off sick, research suggests.

A survey by the GMB union found that two in five would not even take time off if they caught Covid,

The GMB said its survey of almost 400 care workers discovered that only 1% received full company sick pay.

Almost all care workers rely on Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), which only kicks in after three days of sickness and is then £109 a week.

Natalie Grayson, GMB national officer, said: “Statutory sick pay literally kills people in the care sector.

“The Government finally realised this during Covid when our care homes were turned into morgues – temporarily offering low-paid carers sick pay from day one.

“Now carers are once again forced to survive on poverty sick pay via SSP. It’s disgraceful, as well as a massive, public health risk.

“Do we really want the most vulnerable people in society to be cared for by people forced to come in to work sick because they can’t afford not to?

“GMB is calling for all care providers to offer full sick pay from day one.”