New Sick Pay Regime May Force Ill Employees Back To Workplace

12.57.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 20th May 2004

Commenting on reports that Asda, Salisbury's, Debenhams, and Next, have joined Tesco in their new policy of not awarding sick pay for the first three days of absence, Malcolm Bruce MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow DTI Secretary, said: "Although we understand and support the need to take action against serial and persistent offenders, who take sick leave with no medical evidence, we cannot allow employees with genuine sickness to be penalised.

"These policies will hit the lowest paid and part-time workers hardest.

"In addition, it will force many employees to come back to work before they are fully well, and this cannot be good for fellow workers or customers."