Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Women twice as likely as men to miss statutory sick pay, new figures reveal

Exclusive: Figures seen by The Independent reveal that 6.5 per cent of women do not earn enough to qualify for statutory sick pay, compared with just 2.8 per cent of men

Archie Mitchell
Thursday 18 January 2024 02:46 EST
0Comments
Matt Hancock admits he could not live on statutory sick pay

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The head of Britainā€™s trade unions has slammed the countryā€™s "broken" sick pay system, as new figures show women are more than twice as likely as men to miss out on statutory payments.

Across the UK, 1.3 million people do not meet the Ā£123 a week earning threshold to qualify for statutory sick pay, and 7 in 10 of these are women.

Figures compiled by the Trades Union Congress (TUC), which represents Britainā€™s biggest unions, show that 6.5 per cent of women do not earn enough to qualify for statutory sick pay, compared to just 2.8 per cent of men.

And the figures, seen by The Independent, show that Black and minority ethnic (BME) women are the most likely to miss out on statutory sick pay, with 7 per cent ineligible, compared with just 2.7 per cent of white men.

Women are less likely to qualify for the payments as they are more likely to work in lower-paid jobs.

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak told The Independent it is a ā€œnational scandalā€ that so many people, most of them women, are ā€œforced to go without financial support when sickā€.

Paul Nowak said the low level of statutory sick pay is a ā€˜national scandalā€™ that primarily hits women
Paul Nowak said the low level of statutory sick pay is a ā€˜national scandalā€™ that primarily hits women (PA)

While campaigner Amanda Walters, director of Safe Sick Pay, said: "Women already suffer disproportionately from low pay.

ā€œTo add insult to injury these new figures show that many working women are also losing out when they need time off ill."

Mr Nowak also said the UKā€™s statutory sick pay system - under which workers are entitled to Ā£109.40 per week for 28 weeks from their employer if they cannot work - is ā€œbrokenā€.

The TUCā€™s intervention comes after former Tory health secretary Matt Hancock told the Covid inquiry statutory sick pay was ā€œfar, far too lowā€ and ā€œfar lower than the European averageā€.

Mr Hancock added that low sick pay ā€œencourages people to go to work when they should be getting betterā€ and aids the spread of illnesses.

The TUC called the Ā£109.40 figure ā€œpaltryā€ and not enough to live on - noting it is just 18 per cent of the average weekly wage in Britain.

Mr Nowak said: ā€œItā€™s a national scandal that so many low-paid, insecure workers up and down the country ā€“ most of them women ā€“ are forced to go without financial support when sick.

ā€œAnd for those who do get it, itā€™s not nearly enough to live on.

ā€œMinisters could have boosted sick pay and made sure everyone got it, but they chose to turn a blind eye to the problem during the pandemic.

ā€œThe failure to provide proper financial support was an act of self-sabotage that left millions brutally exposed to the virus ā€“ especially those in low-paid, insecure work.

Ms Walters added: "The UKā€™s statutory sick pay system is unequal, unfair and ripe for reform. By paying a higher weekly amount to every worker from day one, weā€™ll all see the benefits of a happy healthy workforce."

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner is in charge of delivering the partyā€™s New Deal for Working People (PA)
Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner is in charge of delivering the partyā€™s New Deal for Working People (PA) (PA Wire)

Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner told The Independent the pandemic ā€œexposed just how precarious work isā€ for those on low incomes, forcing people to choose between their health and finances.

She said: "It is simply unacceptable that the safety net of sick pay should not be available to those who need it most.ā€

Labour has promised to raise statutory sick pay and make it available all workers, including the self-employed and those on low wages currently cut out by the lower earnings limit for eligibility.

Mr Nowak said: ā€œEnough is enough ā€“ itā€™s time for a new deal for workers, like Labour is proposing ā€“ which includes stronger sick pay and a ban on zero hours contracts.ā€

A spokesman for the government said: ā€œStatutory Sick Pay is part of a wider financial safety net, including Universal Credit and new style Employment and Support Allowance for those who need extra financial help.

ā€œEmployers can also decide to pay occupational sick to those who do not meet the criteria for Statutory Sick Pay.ā€

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

0Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in