Inadequate sick pay and pressure from employers are driving millions to continue working with Covid symptoms

RSA calls on the government to address the 'terrible trade-off' many workers face between looking after their health and putting food on the table

Inadequate sick pay and pressure from employers are driving millions of people to continue working with Covid-19 symptoms, according to new research from the RSA.

Warning 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, the RSA's research, based on a poll of UK workers carried out last week, highlights that - 

• around one in 25 (4 per cent) had worked within 10 days of a positive test, rising to one in ten (10 per cent) of those in insecure work such as a zero-hours contract, agency work or the gig economy;
• 6 per cent had worked with Covid-19 symptoms, rising to 8 per cent of insecure workers and 13 per cent of the self-employed; and
• 12 per cent had been ordered into work when they could have easily and more safely worked from home.

As a result, and with only 16 per cent reporting that 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 per cent of an employee's wages - and introducing a 'basic income' style scheme for the self-employed, paid to all those registered with HMRC.

Alan Lockey, head of the 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 ...'

For more information, see 'Economic security trap' driving millions of Brits to work with Covid symptoms, RSA warns.