Member

Finally, I come to Amendment 74C. The proposed changes to statutory sick pay, particularly the removal of waiting days and the lower earnings limit, are intended to support workers by providing them with quicker access to sick pay. These changes will create significant operational challenges for businesses, especially in the context of short notice shift scheduling. The Government’s approach to short notice payments is that workers should be eligible for payment if they are expected to work a shift, even without formal confirmation. While we understand the need for flexibility in the scheduling of shifts, particularly in sectors such as retail, hospitality and transport, the proposed reforms could exacerbate some already considerable logistical challenges.