Some 50 years ago when I was starting out, my first job came with 2 weeks paid holiday and 10 days paid sick leave.<p>After five years service both those benefits would gradually increase to 3 weeks paid holiday and 14 days paid sick leave and increase even further after 10 years service.<p>Here on Airstrip One in 2024 the sick pay has long gone.<p>What has replaced that is the measly £75 per week government sick pay scheme.<p>How on earth can you pay your mortgage/rent, feed your kids and pay your bills on £75 per week while you are off work sick.<p>The decimation of the power of unions to negotiate decent wages, working hours and benefits.<p>Legislation giving power to the employer to sack employees with a swipe of the pen.<p>High unemployment fugures creating competition in the job market,<p>The great benefit to employers when there is high unemployment who have those poor slaves begging and competing for minimum wage jobs.<p>Imagine if everyone was employed, companies like Mcdonalds would be head hunting you bearing wage packages of £50 per hour.