Sick leave

A million of UK’s lowest earners miss out on sick pay

A million (1.15 million) workers – 3.5% of the UK workforce – are not eligible for statutory sick pay (SSP) as they do not meet the earnings threshold of £123 per week, a report from think tank The...

Government to pilot new service to tackle sick leave

The government has announced it will pilot WorkWell, a new service to help people with health conditions stay in and return to work, in 15 areas across England from October 2024.

Is Sunak right about "sick-note culture"?

UK prime minister Rishi Sunak announced plans to reform welfare to tackle “sick-note culture” last Friday (19 April), if the Tories win the upcoming general election.

MPs call for sick pay boost

Statutory sick pay (SSP) is failing to provide enough support for those who most need financial help when ill; it should be increased and made more widely available, MPs said last week (28 March).

Commercial manager wins unfair dismissal tribunal after ‘size of a house’ comment

Hayley Thomas won her claims for unfair dismissal and disability discrimination after she was subjected to a hostile and unwelcoming environment following absence for mental illness.

Frontline workers unable to afford sick days

Nine million (83%) frontline workers work through illness as they cannot afford time off, according to research from financial wellbeing service Wagestream.

NHS strikes should make employers think twice about health

The largest strike in the history of the NHS is a warning bell for employers and HR leaders that they need to be contingency planning and putting strategies in place to ensure their workforces are...

News

Fit notes hit record high in 2021

The number of fit notes issued by GPs reached a record 10.3 million in 2021.

Proposed Neonatal Care Bill offers flexibility to working parents

The government's proposed Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Bill has undergone a second reading in parliament.

Fit note update modernises sick leave

The government has introduced new legislation allowing medical professionals other than GPs to provide fit notes for sick workers if they are unable to work.

Remote staff taking more mental health leave than those on-site

Remote workers are more likely to take time off for mental health related reasons than employees who work on-site.

Majority of UK employees unable to take sick days

More than half (52%) of UK full-time employees did not take a single sick day in the 12 months since February 2021.