When I was 23 years old, I received a diagnosis of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a form of blood cancer.
Receiving this news was a significant blow. I was informed that I would require a five-week course of radiotherapy treatment at a specialized center for young individuals. This meant commuting 40 miles daily to the hospital for my treatment.
Given the draining side effects and the considerable time spent commuting, parking, and waiting at the hospital each day, it became unfeasible for me to continue working at my previous job with a major supermarket chain. I had to take an extended leave of absence.
In such moments, one hopes for the support of a compassionate employer. However, like many others facing illness, the inadequate sick pay protections in the UK left me in a difficult situation.
In my case, I received only two weeks of paid sick leave from my employer before transitioning to statutory sick pay (SSP) for several months, which equated to less than £3 per hour for a full-time employee like myself.
This was a challenging period. Fortunately, I was able to rely on the support of my partner, family, friends, and organizations like Young Lives vs Cancer.
Following my experience, I have encountered individuals through the Safe Sick Pay campaign who had even worse situations, some receiving no sick pay whatsoever during their treatment.
Insufficient sick pay also impacts individuals requiring time off for minor illnesses. For those on shift work, not receiving pay until the fourth day of illness can result in nearly a week’s worth of lost wages.
Therefore, I was dismayed to learn that certain members of the House of Lords are attempting to obstruct the implementation of day one sick pay rights under the Employment Rights Bill.
Opposing day one sick pay rights and assistance for the lowest earners is unjust. These changes are not overly burdensome for employers; they simply require the minimum level of support to allow individuals to recuperate, heal, and return to work safely.
In many other parts of the world, such support is already standard, including in most European countries.
Hence, I, along with other individuals affected by inadequate sick pay, urge the House of Lords to take the appropriate action today: pass the bill and thereby establish crucial measures towards a more effective sick pay system benefiting millions.
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