Too Poor to Be Sick: Race, Work and Ill-Health.

This 2026 report from the Race Equality Foundation shows that Black and Asian workers often face ill‑health decades earlier than their white counterparts, yet major 2025 policy reforms treat the workforce as racially uniform. Significant national data gaps mean disparities in sick pay, sickness absence and return‑to‑work outcomes remain hidden. Workers report being denied sick pay, disciplined for illness, and even asked for intrusive proof of being unwell.