During today’s Prime Ministers Questions the Prime Minister has announced changes to statutory sick say to help combat an outbreak of coronavirus. Under emergency legislation, statutory sick pay will be available from the first day of illness (currently it is only available after 4 days of illness).

The Prime Minister said ‘nobody should be penalised for doing the right thing’ amid fears people could lose out financially if they self-isolate. If they stay at home and if we ask people to self-isolate, they may lose out financially. So, I can today announce that the Health Secretary will bring forward, as part of our emergency coronavirus legislation, measures to allow the payment of statutory sick pay from the very first day you are sick instead of four days under the current rules, and I think that’s the right way forward. Nobody should be penalised for doing the right thing.’