Women most at risk of losing out on sick pay


One in 10 women workers don’t earn enough to qualify for statutory sick pay (SSP), according to a new TUC analysis. 


The study shows that 1.4 million women employees earn less than £118 a week — the qualifying threshold for statutory sick pay — and therefore cannot claim the protection if they fall ill.


Women account for more than two-thirds (69%) of the two million UK workers currently ineligible for SSP. And people in insecure work are even more likely to miss out. Nearly a quarter (23%) of zero hours workers don’t earn enough to get the protection.


The TUC says that women are most at risk of not qualifying for statutory sick pay because they are more likely to be stuck in low-paid and insecure work and because women are more likely to work part time due to caring responsibilities.


The TUC is calling for the minimum earnings threshold to be scrapped. TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “No one should worry about falling into debt or struggling to pay their bills when they’re ill.


“It’s not right that women and insecure workers are most likely to miss out on sick pay — just because they are low earners.


“The government needs to get on and protect every worker if they fall sick.”

https://www.tuc.org.uk/news/1-10-women-dont-earn-enough-qualify-sick-pay-tuc-analysis-reveals