Recommendations for ensuring a financial safety net for workers during illness
The vulnerability of many workers forced to rely on Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) during COVID-19, or not being able to access it at all, exposed the fault lines in the UK system. This is not a new issue though, with the 2017 Taylor Review highlighting the need for regulatory changes to support people with long-term health conditions to remain in quality work.
Despite reform of SSP being a key focus of several UK government consultations, there are no plans to take forward any substantive proposals to improve the system.
This paper examines the SSP reforms that the CIPD believes are needed and makes recommendations to outline how public policy and employer practice should work together to support people’s health and employment outcomes.
Download the full policy paper and recommendations overview to find out more
To adequately support people’s health and employment outcomes, the CIPD’s recommendations for the UK Government and for employers are as follows: 
In Great Britain, the Equality Act 2010 creates a legal obligation on employers to ensure equal pay. Explore this legal requirement and case law in this area
Find links to useful information for people professionals, plus supporting resources for CIPD members
Keep up to date with what is changing under the Employment Rights Act 2025, the Equality (Race and Disability) Bill and the plan to Make Work Pay
Insights, benchmarking data and recommendations from the CIPD's latest survey on employee benefits
Read our latest Labour Market Outlook report for analysis on employers’ recruitment, redundancy and pay intentions
A manifesto for fair, skilled and innovative work, setting out CIPD’s recommendations for policy-makers to strengthen the Scottish labour market
A manifesto for fair, skilled and innovative work, setting out CIPD’s recommendations for policy-makers to strengthen the Welsh labour market