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: 
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
Daniel Khan-O’Malley, Senior Public Affairs (UK Nations), explores how elections in Scotland and Wales and employment rights reform in Northern Ireland could reshape the devolved nations in 2026.
CIPD guidance on the legality of working hours in the UK
Explore our collection of resources on redundancy, including managing and planning for redundancies, commonly asked Q&As and relevant case law
Read our latest Labour Market Outlook report for analysis on employers’ recruitment, redundancy and pay intentions
Based on an assessment of FTSE 100 annual reports and focus groups with investors and HR leaders, this report gives benchmarking data, insights and practical recommendations for improving workforce reporting practices
Survey findings on employer and employee perspectives on trade union representation and relations, giving expert insight. The report makes recommendations on how to prepare for the key Employment Rights Bill reforms around trade union rights and strengthen employer and trade union partnership for mutual gain
Research in this report suggests that improving leadership and people management can help raise the motivation and productivity of the public sector workforce