Union hails ‘landmark day for employees’ as main new employment legal guidelines are available in TODAY
TUC boss Paul Nowak welcomed stronger sick pay rights and new entitlement for paternity leave, saying they will change lives up and down the country
Millions of workers will be entitled to new rights from today(Image: Getty Images)
Union chiefs have hailed a landmark day for workers as 9.6million get stronger sick pay rights after a long battle.
New laws coming into effect today mean 1.2million low-paid workers will get statutory sick pay for the first time. And a further 8.4million will be eligible from day one, while tens of thousands will have new paternity leave rights.
The changes are the first tranche of measures from the flagship Employment Rights Act. TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “Today is a landmark day for workers.
“After years of campaigning from unions and workers, the first individual rights from the Employment Rights Act are coming into force – and they will change lives up and down the country.
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“Sick pay for all, paid from day one of illness is a huge step forward. For too long, low-paid workers – especially women – have missed out on any form of sick pay. And even those who were eligible for statutory sick pay had to wait four days before they could claim it.”
The changes mean employees will receive Statutory Sick Pay from their first day of sickness absence – rather than having to wait until the fourth day, regardless of how much they’re getting paid. It is expected to mean workers get an extra £400million a year extra in sick pay – which the Government says ensures people can rest and recover without fear of losing income.
Employment minister Dame Diana Johnson said: “No one should ever have to choose between their health and earning a living. “For too long, sick employees have had to make the impossible decision between losing out on a day’s pay or returning to work while ill.
“Today’s landmark changes will support employees to recover while providing businesses with the peace of mind that their workforce can return to work healthier and more productive.”
