When I was 23 years old, I received a diagnosis of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a form of blood cancer.
The announcement came as a complete shock. I was informed that I would require five weeks of radiotherapy treatment at a specialized facility catering to young individuals. Each day, I had to commute 40 miles to the hospital for my treatment.
Due to the draining side effects and the substantial time spent commuting, parking, and waiting at the hospital, it became unfeasible for me to continue working at my previous job in a prominent supermarket chain. Consequently, I had to take an extended leave of absence.
During such challenging times, one would hope for a supportive employer. Unfortunately, like many others, I found the sick pay provisions in the UK to be inadequate.
In my situation, I had only two weeks of paid sick leave from my employer before transitioning to statutory sick pay (SSP) for a prolonged period, which equated to less than £3 per hour for a full-time employee like myself.
The journey was arduous. Fortunately, I received tremendous support from my partner, family, friends, and organizations such as Young Lives vs Cancer.
I have encountered numerous individuals through the Safe Sick Pay campaign who faced even more dire circumstances, with some not receiving any sick pay throughout their treatment.
Insufficient sick pay also impacts individuals requiring time off for minor ailments. For individuals on rotating shifts, not receiving pay until the fourth day of illness can result in the loss of nearly a week’s pay.
Hence, I was taken aback to learn that some members of the House of Lords are attempting to obstruct the implementation of day one sick pay entitlements through the Employment Rights Bill.
Opposing day one sick pay rights and assistance for the lowest earners is fundamentally unjust. These reforms do not demand the impossible from employers; they merely require them to ensure that individuals receive some form of support to recuperate and return to work safely.
In various parts of the globe, including most European countries, such support is already considered a basic right.
Therefore, I, along with other affected workers facing inadequate sick pay arrangements, urge the House of Lords to act responsibly today: pass the bill and take the necessary steps toward establishing a more robust sick pay system for millions of individuals.
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