Overheard someone on Channel 4 news say that big wigs were worrying that people would come into work sick with the corona virus because they needed the money. Had to laugh: that's what you get, you f*ers, when you undermine work security to the point where people can't afford to even take a day off without facing severe financial repercussions. When watching all the things China was doing to contain the virus, including +shutting entire cities down+ I couldn't imagine anything like that happening in the UK and other free-market-dominated countries. "GDP falling?? Get back to work, peons, we don't care if you start dropping like flies!!" Politicians can say what they like, that's the real message the Invisible Hand is sending us.
'Workers will get statutory sick pay from the first day off work, not the fourth, to help contain coronavirus, the prime minister has said.
Boris Johnson said people who self-isolate are helping to protect others from the virus and should not be "penalised for doing the right thing".
It means those receiving statutory sick pay would get an extra £40.
[...]
In order to receive statutory sick pay (SSP) people must be earning at least £118 a week.
The change, which is being introduced in emergency legislation, is expected to mean an extra £40 for people receiving SSP - which is set at £94.25 a week and paid by employers.
But TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said two million workers do not earn enough to qualify.
Prospect union added that freelancers and self-employed people would continue to face "the dilemma of no pay or going to work when it may be putting their colleagues at risk".
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn asked Mr Johnson if the sick pay announcement would help those currently not eligible for statutory sick pay - such as those on zero hours contracts, or self-employed people.
The prime minister said "a great many" people would be entitled to SSP, adding: "Others will be entitled to help through existing systems such as universal credit and we are urgently looking at the application process to reflect on the advice on self-isolation." '