The Government has today (15th July) launched a consultation seeking views on ways that the government and employers can take action to reduce ill-health related job loss. This includes looking at the threshold for statutory sick pay (SSP) eligibility, the flexibility of phased returns to work and the possibility of introducing a offering small businesses who help employees return to work a rebate.
Currently, employees must earn at least the equivalent of 14 hours on the minimum wage to qualify for SSP and it was announced that the government will consult on whether to extend eligibility to those earning below this threshold.
In the consultation, the Department for Work and Pensions and Department of Health and Social Care are putting forward a package of measures which encourage early and supportive action by employers for their employees with health conditions.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “We support the reform of statutory sick pay to deliver more effective returns to work by encouraging dialogue between employers and employees. We continue to raise awareness with retailers about how they can make their stores more accessible and accommodate the needs of disabled staff and customers.
“However, retailers are already facing significant pressure from rising wage costs and handling the bureaucracy involved in complying with all their obligations as employers. In undertaking this consultation process, the government has to strike a balance between establishing a framework of support for our colleagues, and helping retailers who offer responsible, flexible employment for the benefit of their business, their colleagues, and their customers.”
The proposals include:
- making changes to the legal framework to encourage employers to support employees with health issues affecting work, and to intervene early during a period of sickness absence
- reforming statutory sick pay so that it is better enforced, more flexible and covers the lowest paid employees
- improving occupational health provision by considering ways of reducing the costs, increasing market capacity and improving the value and quality of services, especially for small employers and self-employed people
- improving employers’ and self-employed people’s access to good advice and support, ensuring that all employers understand and are able to act on their responsibilities to their employees
The consultation is available here: https://getinvolved.dwp.gov.uk/work-and-health/consultation/
ACS will be responding to the consultation and seeking further views from retailers.
