"If you’re unable to work due to ill-health or injury, it can put tremendous strain on household finances. "
- Justin Taurog, CEO of Vitality Life
In 2025, 33.98mn people in the UK were registered as employed. Employment levels have increased by around 640k year-on-year, with the employment rate for those aged 26-64 hitting 75%.
These figures indicate significant reliance on employers for financial stability. Yet, research commissioned by Vitality has found 35% of workers aren’t sure or don’t know the details of their company’s sick leave policy.
Of those surveyed (2,000), 36% aren’t sure if their employer would pay them if unable to work due to ill-health or injury – worryingly, almost one in ten (9%) said their employer doesn’t offer paid sick leave.
Those without access to a sick pay scheme often rely on statutory sick pay (SSP), which offers £118.75p.w. for a minimum of 28 weeks.
The Secretary of State for Work & Pensions, Liz Kendall, recently announced “landmark change” to SSP, with up to 1.3mn low-paid employees now entitled to 80% of their weekly salary as sick pay with no deferred period.
According to the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP), this “new fairer rate strikes the right balance between providing financial security for employees who fall ill, and the cost to businesses – all while retaining the incentives for people to return to work.”
That said, The Health Foundation is still pushing for a review of SSP, coupled with the introduction of a vocational rehabilitation benefit for up to twelve months, to help people stay in work after SSP ends. The independent charity said vocational rehabilitation prevents long-term incapacity.
In the past, industry bodies such as Group Risk Development (GRiD) have highlighted the growing need for vocational rehabilitation, especially to support an ageing workforce.
READ MORE: Zurich Insurance calls on UK Government to mandate rehabilitation support in the workplace
Last year, Zurich Insurance launched a campaign to mandate rehabilitation support in the workplace after finding the number of employees with long-term health conditions had risen by 27% in the last six years.
Speaking with insurance advisers (200), 85% told Vitality that insurers have either full (35%) or significant (50%) responsibility to support policyholders returning to the workplace - only 1% disagreed.
