Millions of British workers are putting themselves and others at risk of Covid-19 due to inadequate sick pay and pressure from their employers, new research shows.
The RSA (royal society for arts, manufactures and commerce) warns that a growing ‘economic security trap’ — the choice workers face between protecting their income and their health — is contributing significantly to the spread of the virus.
Polling carried out between 13 Jan and 15 Jan by Yonder (formerly Populus) of UK workers finds:
- around one-in-25 (4%) British workers has worked within 10 days of a positive test, rising to one-in-ten (10%) of those in insecure work such as a zero-hours contract, agency work or the gig economy
- 6% of British workers have worked with Covid-19 symptoms, rising to 8% of insecure workers and 13% of the self-employed
- 12% have been ordered into work when they could have easily and more safely worked from home
- only 16% think Statutory Sick Pay is sufficient to meet their needs.
The RSA calls for an emergency package to address economic insecurity, including:
- allowing workers who have to self-isolate to access the furlough scheme, meaning statutory sick cover can be provided at 80% of an employee’s wages.
- retaining the £20 per week uplift paid to recipients of Universal Credit
- introducing a ‘basic income’ style scheme for the self-employed, paid to all those registered with HMRC
Recent RSA research on key workers has found that many staff in key industries report struggling to take time off when unwell, including 29% of those working in social care.
The RSA has a long-running programme of research dedicated to tackling economic insecurity in the UK. Last year the organisation published A Blueprint for Good Work, putting forward practical solutions for providing good work after the pandemic.
Alan Lockey, head of RSA’s future work programme, said: “Our polling shows that millions feel forced to put themselves and others at risk of the virus because of insecure work, pressure from bosses, and the failings of our deeply inadequate welfare state.
“Rishi Sunak must close this ‘economic security trap’ — the terrible trade-off many workers face between their health and putting food on the table — by allowing self-isolating workers to access the furlough scheme, and retaining the £20 per week uplift in universal credit.
“We also need to see help for the millions currently excluded, through no fault of their own – and the self-employed in particular. An ’emergency basic income’ style scheme, using the current tax infrastructure, is the best way to help reach all this group and close the gaps which we believe are helping to increase the infection rate.”
