Recommendation 10

HM Government Acknowledged

Through the measures in A Plan for Jobs the unemployed people, including women. This includes job creation through the Kickstart scheme which can be accessed by young women at risk of becoming long-term unemployed aged 16–24 on Universal Credit and the expansion of the Sector-based Work Academy accessed by women of all ages. There is cross-government collaboration to identify and promote opportunities in sectors with immediate or growing demand for jobs and identify how UC claimants, especially those who may face additional barriers such as childcare, can best be supported to gain the skills needed to work in priority sectors, as well as increasing opportunities for workplace progression. 14 Government Reponse: Unequal impact? Coronavirus and the gendered economic impact 11.While changes to the availability for Reject. Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) eligibility is Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) have benefited based, in part, on the amount an individual many, it has also thrown into sharp relief the earns per week rather than the amount of demographics of those who are not eligible, hours they are contracted to work. Those on and for whom the level of SSP provides zero-hour contracts may therefore be entitled an inadequate safety net. Women are to sick pay if they meet all eligibility criteria, overrepresented in this demographic, and we which includes being classed as an employee are concerned that the Treasury seems both and having average earnings of at least £120 unaware and uninterested in the evidence per week. showing this. (para 64) SSP is just one part of the welfare safety We urge the Government to conduct a study net and the Government’s wider offer to to examine the adequacy of, and eligibility support people in times of need. Where an for, Statutory Sick Pay. Such a study should be individual requires further financial support published within three months, alongside an while off work sick, for example where their equality impact analysis. This should be done income is reduced while on SSP or they are alongside our recommendation for all workers not eligible for SSP, they may be eligible for on zero-hour contracts to be able to claim SSP, support through the welfare system, which the as set out in our Report on Unequal impact? Government has strengthened to help people through these unprecedented times. Many Coronavirus and BAME people. (para 65) of those earning below the LEL are already in receipt of welfare benefits. The Health Is Everyone’s Business consultation, published July 2019, set out a number of proposals to reduce ill-health related job loss, including reforming SSP. As part of this consultation the Government sought views on the rate of SSP and the role that employers can and should play in supporting employees who are disabled or have long-term health conditions to stay in and thrive in work. This included setting out that the Government is minded to extend SSP to those earning below the lower earnings limit, who are not currently eligible for financial support from their employer during a period of sickness absence. will be issued shortly. Young People Government Reponse: Unequal impact? Coronavirus and the gendered economic impact 15