“I think that guarantee that you’re not losing anything is good,” she said.
“But then I can see it from the employer’s point of view. It’s a knock-on effect for them, it’s more expense, you lose out on staff.
“It’s a good idea, but I think a lot of people will abuse it.”
Joe Rollin, a senior organiser at the union Unite, said people were “constantly worried” of being unable to pay their mortgage or rent if they fell sick.
Workers can get £118.75 per week of statutory sick pay if they are too ill to work. It is paid by the employer for up to 28 weeks.
However, Mr Rollin said there was “no way” people could support themselves on such a rate.
A spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions said “landmark reforms” to strengthen statutory sick pay would “help millions of workers by providing better financial security and support when they’re ill”.
“These plans to make work pay go hand in hand with our determination to get Britain back to health and back to work,” the spokesperson added.
“As part of this plan, we have also announced an independent review to better support disabled people and those with ill health who may be at risk of falling out of work to stay in employment.”