Member

Let me clarify. The problem is not with legitimate statutory sick pay claims from individuals working multiple jobs. It is with the lack of safeguards that would allow a worker to, first, go off sick with one employer and begin receiving statutory sick pay; then start working for another employer while still drawing statutory sick pay; and then, potentially, repeat this behaviour with others. There is no proper oversight mechanism, no way to cross-reference national insurance numbers across employers, no effective way to prevent simultaneous claims for statutory sick pay. This is, I believe, a serious loophole with real financial implications, particularly for the agency sector and for smaller businesses already struggling to absorb rising costs. Even retaining a short waiting period specifically for agency workers would be a minimal step to help reduce the opportunity for abuse while ensuring that the system remains targeted at genuine need.