New Sick Pay Rules to Help Up to 9.6 Million UK Workers, Says TUC
Changes to sick pay rules in the UK are expected to help up to 9.6 million workers, according to the Trades Union Congress (TUC). These changes are part of the new Employment Rights Act 2025 and aim to support people with low incomes.
Unions say the new rules will make a big difference for workers, especially those who struggle financially. They also say that most voters support these changes, even though some businesses are not happy about them.
From Monday, about 8.4 million workers who receive statutory sick pay will benefit from a key change. In the past, workers only started getting sick pay from the fourth day of illness. Now, they will receive sick pay from the very first day they are unwell. This means workers will not have to wait several days without income when they fall sick.
Statutory sick pay is the minimum amount that employers are required by law to pay employees when they are ill and cannot work. For many workers, especially those in low-paying jobs, this support is very important.
In addition to this, around 1.2 million workers who were not eligible for sick pay before will now be included. Previously, workers earning less than £125 per week could not receive statutory sick pay. Under the new rules, this income limit has been removed, allowing more people to qualify.
This change is expected to help certain groups more than others. Women, who often work in part-time or lower-paid jobs, are likely to benefit the most. Disabled workers, as well as younger and older employees, will also gain from these new rules.
The TUC says these changes will reduce pressure on low-income families. In the past, many workers had to make a difficult choice when they got sick. They either had to go to work while unwell to avoid losing money, or stay home and lose pay. Going to work sick could make their illness worse or spread it to others. Now, with sick pay starting from day one, workers can take time off to recover without worrying as much about their income.
The sick pay changes are part of a larger set of worker protections introduced under the Employment Rights Act 2025. This law also includes new rules to protect workers from sexual harassment, improve parental leave, and strengthen the rights of trade unions.
The policy has received strong public support. According to a survey by the TUC, 76% of people agree that workers should receive sick pay from the first day of illness. This shows that the idea is popular across different political groups.
However, not everyone supports the changes. Some employers are concerned about the impact on their businesses. They say the new rules will increase costs and create additional pressure, especially at a time when many companies are already facing financial challenges.
Neil Carberry, the chief executive of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, shared these concerns. He said businesses are already dealing with rising costs, including higher national minimum wages, increased payroll taxes, and rising energy prices. These energy costs have gone up partly because of the ongoing war with Iran.
According to Carberry, these pressures are making it harder for businesses to manage their finances. Some companies are already cutting staff or raising prices to cope with the situation. He warned that the new sick pay rules could add to these problems.
Carberry also said there needs to be clear guidance for businesses on how to apply the new rules. Without proper support, he believes the changes could cause confusion. He also raised concerns that a small number of workers might try to misuse the system.
Despite these concerns, unions believe the benefits for workers are much more important. They argue that no one should have to choose between their health and their income. By giving workers access to sick pay from the first day, the government is helping create a fairer and healthier workplace.
Overall, the new sick pay rules mark an important change in workers’ rights in the UK. They aim to provide better protection for millions of people, especially those in low-paid jobs. While businesses may face some challenges in adjusting to the new system, supporters say the changes are necessary to improve workers’ wellbeing and financial security.
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