Letdown staff ‘will quit frontline jobs’
A QUARTER of frontline workers in sectors including the NHS, care and transport plan to quit as they feel let down over protection from Covid-19.
A third of those polled said bosses had not listened to their concerns about things like PPE and social distancing. They also felt they had not had enough mental health support in the crisis.
Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse said carers felt particularly let down: “This Tory Government’s total lack of support, empathy and appropriate action will be solely responsible for this mass exodus of carers.”
She added: “It is no surprise so many hardworking carers are looking to leave when so mistreated.” Independent pollsters Censuswide quizzed 1,099 frontline workers on behalf of the smart employee app Blink. Blink founder Sean Nolan said: “Frontline workers have exposed themselves and their loved ones to enormous risk during this pandemic.
“It’s worrying such a large proportion of our NHS staff, bus drivers and other key workers still don’t feel safe.”
Andy McDonald, Labour’s Shadow Employment Rights Secretary, said: “This survey tells us too many feel unsafe at work. The Government’s muddled Covid-19 guidance hasn’t helped.
“Underfunding of the Health and Safety Executive has exposed a real deficiency in the enforcement of health and safety laws. Lack of recognition of trades unions has also deprived many businesses of the expertise of union health and safety representatives.”