The Employment Rights Bill – what does it mean for young people with cancer?

Today, the Employment Rights Bill was introduced to UK Parliament. The bill contains proposed changes to the rights of workers, including reform of Statutory Sick Pay (SSP).

In response to todays bill,  Sonia Malik, Head of Policy, Influencing and Voice at Young Lives vs Cancer says: 

“When a young person is diagnosed with cancer they often have to stop work immediately to start treatment and can be off for months if not years due to their treatment plan and its side effects. Many young people may have only just entered the working world, they could be saving for their first home or just moved out and suddenly see their income plummet when moved to Statutory Sick Pay. Our research found that young people on treatment have to find an extra £700 a month on average to cover extra costs such as food, travel and heating bills. 

“Today’s Employment Bill will be a positive step to ensuring sick pay is given to young people with cancer on day one of illness, as well as removing the lower earnings threshold. However, without an increase in the rate of Statutory Sick Pay to be in line with a worker’s wage, young people will continue to struggle with their living costs like food, rent, mortgage and heating bills as well as extra costs of cancer while on a lower income.”