A new bill which would bolster people’s sick pay, maternity leave and protection against unfair dismissal is set to be pushed through parliament on Thursday.
Government ministers have promised to deliver a ‘once-in-a-generation’ overhaul of workers rights within their first 100 days in office, which could see over seven million workers affected by the changes.
Under current rules most people are not allowed to claim sick pay until the fourth day of their illness.
Probation periods – which can currently last up to two years – are also expected to be shortened to six months.
Women are set to be entitled to apply for maternity pay from their first day of work, rather than waiting six months, and ministers have also vowed to protect new mothers from unfair dismissal.
The TUC said its position was that every worker should be entitled to either statutory sick pay or their average weekly earnings – whichever is lower.
But ministers have faced criticism for abandoning a statutory ‘right to switch off,’ which would forbid employers from contacting workers out of hours without their consent, following talks with business leaders.
Will Stronge, Director of Research at The Autonomy Institute, said: ‘Just six weeks ago, the Government was trumpeting the benefits of their right to switch off policy.
‘If reports over the weekend are true, this is an embarrassing U-turn which lets workers down and suggests once again that this Government is bending over backwards to appease the corporate and business lobby.
‘A genuine right to switch off outside of work hours is desperately needed to end the blurring of boundaries between work and free time.’
Trades Union Congress’s head of employment, Nicola Smith said the bill is going to be a ‘crucial first step to delivering better quality jobs across the country,’ but will wait to see the content of the bill before passing judgement.
Minesh Patel, associate director of mental health charity Mind told : ‘We’re expecting that this bill is going to be part of the government’s positive and ambitious plan to make work pay and that that is going to boost incomes and raise living standards across the UK.
‘The upcoming Employment Rights Bill provides a real opportunity for the government to reform statutory sick pay (SSP) and support more people with mental health problems to thrive in the workplace.
‘We welcome the Government’s plans to ensure people receive sick pay from their first day of sickness and that all workers will be eligible. They must, however, be more ambitious with their reforms if they want to provide a real safety net for people with mental health problems.
She added: ‘The current rate of SSP is forcing people to choose between paying their bills and taking time off for their mental health. Increasing SSP and extending the length of time it’s paid from 28 weeks to 52 weeks would enable more people with a mental health problem to stay in employment, reducing re-hiring costs for businesses. A more flexible model to allow SSP payment alongside wages would also help people to gradually return to work rather than being signed off completely.
‘This is a pivotal moment to make SSP fit for purpose and help grow our economy. We urge the UK government to go further with its reforms so that anybody with a health condition, including people with mental health problems, can remain and thrive in work.’
Thomas Hamilton-Shaw, Policy Manager at disability equality charity Scope, said: ‘It must be much easier for disabled people to get into and stay in work.
‘Fixing our broken sick pay system is a crucial part of this.
‘The rate of sick pay is far too low, and nowhere near flexible enough.
‘It means disabled people are often pushed out of jobs if they have fluctuating conditions or are unwell.
‘The government needs to use this bill to fix these problems if it wants to support more disabled people to stay in work.’
A government source said: ‘Our plan to make work pay has always been about delivering economic growth by increasing security for working people, improving productivity and levelling the playing field for businesses. Ensuring people have sick pay when they need it is crucial to that mission.’
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