Campaign win! Sick Pay changes to benefit 8 million people
What's happening
The Safe Sick Pay campaign is celebrating as two sick pay changes we have campaigned for since 2021 come into law.
The changes in the Government's Employment Rights Bill will make around one million more people eligible for sick pay and ensure seven million people are eligible for statutory sick pay from the first day they become ill.
Below are just a few of the moments along the way. Thanks to the many organisations and individuals that made change possible.
Timeline of the Safe Sick Pay campaign
Listening to workers
Over 2021 the Centre for Progressive Change (CPC) launched a Listening Campaign with low-income commercial cleaners on the key work issues they are impacted by, working with trade union, migrant and civil society organisations we reach 520 people.
We held an issues workshop with 50 workers and civil society leaders to decide what will campaign on – poor Statutory Sick Pay entitlements.
"I was forced to work through illness”
Workers, civil society and trade union leaders launch the Safe Sick Pay campaign in the Sunday Mirror.
The campaign is backed by the TUC, Unison and Usdaw, as well as Young Lives vs Cancer, Mind, Scope Child Poverty Action Group and Disability Rights UK.
Tory ex cabinet ministers back change
The campaign gains cross party political backing in The Times from former cabinet ministers Sir Robert Buckland and Priti Patel
Sky News reveals the harm done to workers by inadequate sick pay, with an exclusive investigation finding workers forced to rely on emergency food aid
Angela Rayner's sick pay pledge
2023: The Deputy leader of the Labour Party, Angela Rayner, confirms at TUC conference that sick pay would be at the heart of her party’s employment rights manifesto offer at the next election, a testament to the work of many trade unions who have long fought for better sick pay rights.
The economic case
2023: WPI Economics launch their report, Making Statutory Sick Pay work, the most comprehensive analysis yet into the benefits to employers and the wider economy, modelling different sick pay rates.
Cancer survivors sick pay call
The campaign teams up with Young Lives vs Cancer, Antony Nolan, Leukaemia Care, Cancer 52 and Macmillan to reveal the impact on patients on ITV News.
Meeting the Chancellor
Jonathan Gullis MP announces his support for the campaign and secures a meeting with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt.
Later the same year, the Work & Pensions Select Committee, under Sir Stephen Timms MP, starts an investigation into whether the system is fit for purpose
Business benefits of safe sick pay
Legal & General Investment Management, who have already pioneered sick pay changes with hundreds of workers in their property division, host a sick pay symposium for employers with the Centre for Progressive Change, explaining the benefits of higher sick pay to staff
Statutory Sick Pay 'not fit for purpose'
The Work & Pensions Select Committee brand the UK sick pay system 'not for for its primary purpose' to help workers recover safely from illness. Our evidence appears prominently in the committee's report and in the media.
An election
A snap election is called by the the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, measures to improve sick pay are confirmed in the manifestos of Labour, Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru, the SNP and the Green Party
Organising to sign up MPs
Through local teams spanning Cornwall, to Pembrokeshire, to Newcastle, we engage dozens of MPs to bring them on board with the campaign asks to increase sick pay
New Government
The new Labour Government announces a bill to improve workers rights - they include better sick pay for lower earners!
We work with partners and allies including Covid Bereaved Families, Citizens Advice, Organise, the Royal Society of Public Health and the Work Foundation.
BBC cover Trade Union call
Trade Union General Secretaries from the PCS, CWU, RCN, NEU and Bakers Union amongst others write a joint letter calling for an increase in sick pay and wider demands of the Safe Sick Pay campaign, with the news running across BBC national bulletins
Parliamentary drop in
We hold a Drop-In in Parliament with over 50 MPs and partners to show support for Safe Sick Pay in the Employment Rights Bill. Baroness Ruth Lister (pictured) is one of 180 MPs and Peers now supporting the campaign.
Get Well Soon - card writing campaign
Hundreds of 'Get Well Soon' - deliver Safe Sick Pay’ cards signed by workers, MPs, Peers and partner organisations across the country - with workers in London designing a card to be brought to 10 Downing Street.
Taking Action: Get Well Soon
A giant ‘Get Well Soon Sick Pay’ card signed by workers, MPs, Peers and partner organisations, is presented to No.10 with a petition calling for a sick pay increase to feature in the bill.
With grateful thanks - to all our partners and allies
Royal Assent
We're celebrating as the final signing of the employment rights bill was confirmed in December 2025 - bringing a sick pay boost to around 8 million people, one in three of all contracted workers.
What's next
This week's news represents a big improvement to sick pay, particularly for the very lowest earners.
We're continue to campaign for the Government to improve the rate sick pay is paid at - and make sure the law is properly enforced so that workers legal rights to sick pay are protected.
