Recommendation 3

All employees should be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay, not just those earning above the lower earnings limit (LEL). We accept that, as the Government says, those earning below the LEL may be entitled to Universal Credit, but there remains a compelling case for removing it. It would enable people who have multiple jobs, each earning below the LEL, to receive SSP, and it would support those not claiming benefits. It would also help to maintain the link between employers and employees. Since employees with more than one job, each earning above the LEL, already qualify for SSP more than once, we are not persuaded that removing the LEL would result in too much complexity. The Government should remove the lower earnings limit for Statutory Sick Pay ahead of financial year 2025–26.