Clive Jones, Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Wokingham backs changes to improve UK’s woeful record on sick pay.

Clive Jones, Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Wokingham backs changes to improve UK’s woeful record on sick pay.

The UK’s sick pay rate is amongst the lowest in Europe, and the wider industrialised world, with a number of firms effectively paying as little as £1 per hour to full-time employees off sick in their first week and £3 per hour thereafter.

Clive Jones, the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Wokingham, said: “Some hard-working staff, people like cleaners and care workers, may get no money for four days and just £3 an hour thereafter. This is an impossible situation for someone paying a mortgage, bills and other costs - someone who may have worked for years and paid taxes - it’s entirely wrong”,

The issue affects a surprisingly large number of local people. New data from the Centre for Progressive Change and TUC estimates that 16,036 people in the borough, or 22% of the workforce, often in low-paid occupations, will only have access to the low legal minimum ‘statutory sick pay’ if they are off work with an illness or injury. This compares to:

· 13,731 people in Bracknell

· 16,208 people in Windsor and Maidenhead

Clive, who was diagnosed with cancer at the Royal Berkshire Hospital (RBH) in 2008 and juggled work and family while receiving treatment, has pledged to champion the 'Safe Sick Pay' campaign, run by the Centre for Progressive Change which is seeking changes to sick pay in the next Parliament.

Clive said:

“I was fortunate in that following excellent care from the NHS, I have not only recovered but also had support during my treatment.

"I know from talking to others less fortunate, they not only deal with the trauma and exhaustion of cancer treatment but also the worry about how they or their family will cope without adequate sick pay”.

Sick Pay is likely to be a key bone of contention in any new Government’s employment bill, with Labour pledging partial reform but offering no commitment to fix the low weekly minimum of £116.75 a week, an effective rate of £3 an hour.

Under Rishi Sunak, the Conservatives repeatedly failed to address this hidden scandal despite vocal criticism of the policy from within the party by no less than four former Conservative Cabinet Ministers.

Clive said:

“I know how pressure can build to go back to work too quickly before you are mentally or physically strong enough to cope with the daily demands.

“SSP is only one element in improving the nation's physical and mental health, but for many it has been ignored for too long.

“If elected on July 4, I will end the inaction on this important issue and use my voice in parliament to champion this long overdue reform.”

A study by experts WPI Economics previously identified there are significant benefits to the nation of reducing the illness and economic inactivity brought about by sickness, of up to £4.2 billion a year when savings to the long term economic inactivity brought about by illness and NHS costs are taken into account. [1]

Amanda Walters, Director of the Centre for Progressive Change, said:

“Sick pay that supports workers financially to take the time off they need means they're at less risk of being forced back to work before they are ready, spreading bugs or harming their own long-term health. This is good for workers, employers and the economy alike.”