Sick Pay's a Joke - Time to Actually Pay People When They're Ill

Why should anyone have to choose between going into work sick and losing their rent money? It's madness, plain and simple. People are forced to spread their germs, making everyone else sick, and then they're penalised for it. It’s not just about a few quid; it’s about basic dignity.

My proposal is to bring in real, decent sick pay for everyone, from day one. None of this statutory nonsense where you barely get enough to cover a loaf of bread. We're talking about a proper wage replacement, at least 80%, so people can actually afford to get better without going into debt. This should be funded by employers, like it used to be before they started chipping away at workers' rights. If a business can afford to pay out dividends, it can afford to pay its staff when they're ill.

And we need to get rid of those awful fit notes and the constant suspicion that people are skiving.