Coronavirus: Four in five workers worry returning to job will put family at risk, survey says

Less than eight per cent of respondents say government advice on returning to work is clear

The vast majority of workers are worried about returning to their job due to fears doing so could put their family at risk from coronavirus, a study has found.

A survey of 3,500 workers by the GMB union found four in five respondents raised such concerns about going back to work when lockdown measures are eased.

It came as a separate survey showed an overwhelming majority of support staff in schools had concerns about safety in their workplace during the Covid-19 pandemic.

GMB said it had received “disturbing” testimonies from people who were being bullied into returning to work and those who feared they could lose their job if they refused to return due to safety concerns.

In many testimonies, workers said they were afraid going back to work would endanger family members who have underlying health conditions, such as leukaemia and multiple sclerosis.

The survey also found 60 per cent of respondents were worried about being pressured into returning to work and less than eight per cent thought the government’s return to work advice was clear.

“I know that my employer will not listen to my concerns,” one worker told the union.

“A friend and employee has raised concerns regarding social distancing, the answer from management was ‘you can always be furloughed’.”

Another said: “[My] employer is constantly trying to find loopholes in the guidance. It is clear that our sector is not safe, but the guidelines are not clear enough.”

In response to the study, John Phillips, acting GMB general-secretary, warned workers needed reassurance that their welfare was being put first during the crisis.

“The government’s unclear advice and failure to enforce workplace standards means risky behaviour by some employers could see all of us punished with a resurgence of the virus that could destabilise our country’s recovery,” Mr Phillips said.

Andy McDonald, Labour's shadow employment rights and protections secretary, said people were concerned about returning to their workplaces and called on the government to "update its guidance to clarify the law, and to put in place measures to protect people's rights and their health."

"The government has failed to deliver a clear plan that gives workers and their families the confidence that they'll be safe and protected," Mr McDonald said.

GMB's research followed a survey by the trade union Unison which found an overwhelming majority of school support staff did not feel reassured by the government’s claims that schools in England will be safe to reopen to more pupils at the beginning of June.

Only 2 per cent of the 45,200 teaching and classroom assistants, cleaners, administrative, management staff, and technicians polled said they were reassured by messages from ministers.

Meanwhile, 96 per cent of respondents felt the government had not put safety first in its plans to bring back schools.

Jon Richards, Unison’s head of education, said the findings showed there was “little confidence” in the push to reopen schools from 1 June.

“It makes no sense for there to be such a push for schools to open more widely in England, while other parts of the UK are taking a much more considered approach,” Mr Richards said.

“Staff, parents and schools aren’t ready to go back without reassurances that safety is the number one priority.”

In response to the GMB study, Frances O’Grady, general-secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), said workers were "understandably anxious" about returning to their jobs due to the “chaos and confusion of recent weeks”.

“Staff will only feel confident if government and bosses act now to make safer working a reality in every workplace,” Ms O’Grady said.

“That means all employers carrying out and publishing risk assessments in consultation with unions and their workforces.

“Getting this right is in the national interest. If rogue employers cut corners it puts us all at risk of another spike in infections.”

A spokesperson for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) said: "We know this is an unsettling time for workers. Employers should make every effort to support working from home, including by providing suitable IT and equipment.

"For those that cannot work from home we have published clear and comprehensive guidance to give businesses and workers the confidence to return to work safely, led by the best available science."

The spokesperson added: "We urge employers to listen to the concerns of their workforce and take socially responsible decisions.

"If they do not, workers can report them to their local authority or the Health and Safety Executive who can take a range of action.”