{"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/763493.json"},"data":{"type":"petition","id":763493,"attributes":{"action":"Require the Government to fund all Statutory Sick Pay for small businesses","background":"Many small businesses cannot absorb the extra cost of additional days of statutory sick pay. Long-term sickness or multiple absences could threaten business survival and jobs. The Government should fund the cost of all sick pay rather than requiring small businesses to pay.","additional_details":"Small businesses often operate on tight margins and cannot easily absorb additional employment costs. Requiring employers to pay all statutory sick pay from Day 1 could place significant financial pressure on small companies, especially if employees take long-term sickness or if several staff are absent at once. This could threaten business stability and jobs. The Government should fund all sick pay rather than small businesses having to provide this.","committee_note":"","state":"open","signature_count":52,"created_at":"2026-03-07T09:00:46.092Z","updated_at":"2026-04-28T00:44:50.000Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2026-04-14T14:51:24.000Z","closed_at":null,"moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2026-03-07T09:12:30.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":null,"government_response_at":null,"debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"creator_name":"Claire Harkin","rejection":null,"government_response":null,"debate":null,"departments":[{"acronym":"DWP","name":"Department for Work and Pensions","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions"}],"topics":[],"signatures_by_country":[{"name":"United Kingdom","code":"GB","signature_count":52}],"signatures_by_constituency":[{"name":"Clacton","ons_code":"E14001174","mp":"Nigel Farage MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Corby and East Northamptonshire","ons_code":"E14001179","mp":"Lee Barron MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"East Wiltshire","ons_code":"E14001217","mp":"Danny Kruger MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Exeter","ons_code":"E14001231","mp":"Steve Race MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Exmouth and Exeter East","ons_code":"E14001232","mp":"David Reed MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Kingswinford and South Staffordshire","ons_code":"E14001316","mp":"Mike Wood MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Meriden and Solihull East","ons_code":"E14001358","mp":"Saqib Bhatti MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Newton Abbot","ons_code":"E14001381","mp":"Martin Wrigley MP","signature_count":2},{"name":"Plymouth Moor View","ons_code":"E14001426","mp":"Fred Thomas MP","signature_count":6},{"name":"Plymouth Sutton and Devonport","ons_code":"E14001427","mp":"Luke Pollard MP","signature_count":6},{"name":"Ribble Valley","ons_code":"E14001443","mp":"Maya Ellis MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Salisbury","ons_code":"E14001460","mp":"Rt Hon John Glen MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"South East Cornwall","ons_code":"E14001486","mp":"Anna Gelderd MP","signature_count":11},{"name":"South Ribble","ons_code":"E14001491","mp":"Mr Paul Foster MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"South West Devon","ons_code":"E14001495","mp":"Rebecca Smith MP","signature_count":7},{"name":"Surrey Heath","ons_code":"E14001532","mp":"Dr Al Pinkerton MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Torbay","ons_code":"E14001551","mp":"Steve Darling MP","signature_count":4},{"name":"Widnes and Halewood","ons_code":"E14001584","mp":"Derek Twigg MP","signature_count":1}],"signatures_by_region":[{"name":"North West","ons_code":"B","signature_count":3},{"name":"East Midlands","ons_code":"E","signature_count":1},{"name":"West Midlands","ons_code":"F","signature_count":2},{"name":"East of England","ons_code":"G","signature_count":1},{"name":"South East","ons_code":"J","signature_count":1},{"name":"South West","ons_code":"K","signature_count":40}],"other_parliamentary_business":[]}}}