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 of UK workers found that around one-in-25 British workers has worked within 10 days of a positive test, rising to one-in-ten 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 while only 16% think Statutory Sick Pay is sufficient to meet their needs.
The RSA is calling 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.
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.”
