Group calls for change to sick pay system

Sick pay rules are preventing some workers who need to self-isolate from doing so - and could be contributing to the spread of coronavirus, a new study has claimed.

Low and middle-income families campaign group The Resolution Foundation says statutory sick pay – which only gives out £96 a week - only picks up less than a quarter of a typical employee's earnings while they are sick and makes self isolation during the pandemic a “major financial sacrifice” for many.

Resolution Foundation researcher Maja Gustafsson, said: "Getting people to selfisolate at home is one of the important tools we have in combating Covid-19.

"But asking workers to do that often involves a major financial sacrifice – and the UK's sick pay regime has been woefully inadequate in providing the necessary support.

"Many more Covid infections will have taken place as a result."

The group says that the Government should use the Job Retention Scheme – which covers up to 80% of an employee's salary – to encourage more people to self-isolate when they need to.

The Resolution Foundation said that expanding the furlough scheme would cost around £426million a month if 643,000 people used it, which would replace the £112million being paid out in statutory sick pay.

Ms Gustafsson added: "Coronavirus vaccines will take many months to roll out, so more workers will need to self-isolate at home to contain the spread of the virus next year.

"The Government must to the far more successful job support schemes to provide workers with the financial support they need to do the right thing."