Women in key worker positions across Yorkshire and Humberside are losing sleep, spending more on household bills, and worrying about the pandemic’s impact on their children’s education and mental health, according to a survey published today (Wednesday) by UNISON.
The findings are based on responses from over 4,000 women including teaching assistants, nurses, council workers and police staff. They provide a comprehensive insight into the emotional, physical and financial impact of Covid on critical public services staff who are keeping the region running.
The report Women Working Through the Pandemic includes the experiences of those providing a wide range of essential services in Yorkshire and Humberside workplaces (56%) or from home (37%).
It shows the desperate situations key workers are facing and why they need proper time off and a pay rise, says UNISON. The findings are released ahead of UNISON’s Empowering Women virtual conference, which opens later today with a keynote address from new general secretary Christina McAnea.
Some have described being left to pay all the bills after the death of their partner from Covid or resorting to wrapping themselves in blankets to save on electricity bills.
The results show the huge strain of working during the Covid crisis with nearly two thirds (64%) not sleeping well, nearly half (43%) not taking regular breaks and a significant number (57%) feeling stressed most of the time.
The impact of the pandemic on children is also a source of anxiety for many. Of the women who are parents, three in five (60.8%) are worried about the mental health of their children and more than two fifths (45%) are concerned about how their education is being affected.
The emotional impact of not being able to see friends or colleagues face to face – or look after themselves properly – is a major issue. The vast majority (92%) miss catching up with close friends in person, and many (49%) do not have time to reflect and destress. More than a third (36%) say they are experiencing loneliness.
Women who can least afford it are paying the biggest price, according to UNISON. Of the over 4000 in Yorkshire and Humberside who took part in the survey – half (50%) – earn £18,000 a year or less, and a more than a third (37%) have an annual salary of £15,000 or less.
Over two fifths (42%) have seen their spending increase – especially on energy, food, technology, transport and housing. Reasons include having children off school all the time, a partner working from home or being furloughed.
Over a quarter (28%) say they had to dip into savings to cope with financial difficulties. One even revealed they had bought a caravan to live in to protect their vulnerable family members from catching Covid.
More than half (52%) said being unable to get a regular hair cut or colour is affecting how they feel about themselves. Almost half (47%) are not exercising regularly.
UNISON is calling on the government to ensure employers offer staff more flexibility over when they work and not to take long hours for granted, fund childcare properly so it’s affordable and accessible for key workers and maintain the £20 increase to the universal credit allowance.
UNISON regional convenor Wendy Nichols said: “Women have been the bedrock of Public Services for years but never has the pressure on them been greater than during this pandemic.
They are the front line in hospitals, in social care, the police service, local government and all our public services. They are juggling work, educating their children, managing the stress at not having the income to cover ever rising utility and food bills, with cuts to universal credit to look forward to on the horizon .
They are already on very low pay as our survey demonstrates; most with the prospect of no significant increase in pay. How can this Government keep treating women this way?”
Our Women’s Self Organised Group Chair, Gill Garnett has spoken to us about the impact of the pandemic on her; reflecting on the many roles women play in society and how this compounds the impact on women of the last year:
“As a key worker, a mum and nan, this pandemic has hit hard in many ways. The biggest impact has been emotional and physical, causing sleepless nights worrying about family, work and where the next bit of money is coming from.
Financially it has been a rollercoaster ride, helping to keep my grand children and children safe and to help put food on the table for us and them due to them being furloughed.
Emotionally it has left me feeling completely drained; trying to juggle work and home life. Working on the very front line in the NHS it has been hard, as being with people dying of Covid and other illnesses, and trying to be a comfort to them in place of their loved ones has been quite overwhelming. This has been a privilege but a drain on my emotions.
Physically I just need constant sleep but I have never felt as many aches and pains that have caused a lack of sleep. The anxiety this has brought and the never ending tears I have shed has caused me to be overprotective of my family and appreciate what I have. As a team of workers all care staff have found the situation harrowing but it has been crucial to protect those vulnerable people we care for.”
We know so many of our women members are in similar positions; balancing their family, their finances and the incredibly important work they do for all of us.
Our Women’s Self Organised Group Chair, Gill has spoken to us about the impact of the pandemic on her; reflecting on the many roles women play in society and how this compounds the impact on women of the last year:
“As a key worker, a mum and nan, this pandemic has hit hard in many ways. The biggest impact has been emotional and physical, causing sleepless nights worrying about family, work and where the next bit of money is coming from.
Financially it has been a rollercoaster ride, helping to keep my grandchildren and children safe and to help put food on the table for us and them due to them being furloughed.
Emotionally it has left me feeling completely drained; trying to juggle work and home life. Working on the very front line in the NHS it has been hard, as being with people dying of Covid and other illnesses, and trying to be a comfort to them in place of their loved ones has been quite overwhelming. This has been a privilege but a drain on my emotions.
Physically I just need constant sleep but I have never felt as many aches and pains that have caused a lack of sleep. The anxiety this has brought and the never ending tears I have shed has caused me to be overprotective of my family and appreciate what I have. As a team of workers all care staff have found the situation harrowing but it has been crucial to protect those vulnerable people we care for.”
We know so many of our women members are in similar positions; balancing their family, their finances and the incredibly important work they do for all of us.
Notes to editors:
– UNISON carried out the survey from 8-10 February 2021. The findings are based on 4,386 responses from women key workers. They worked in schools (30%); the NHS/healthcare (25%); social care (11%), local government (15%); police, justice and probation (4%); higher and further education (57%); charities, voluntary organisations or housing associations (3%), and other settings including transport and energy (6%).
-Click here to read the national data and full report.
-Case studies include (names have been changed):
Jennifer, a police support officer, said: “I’ve started suffering with anxiety. I’ve found it really hard to be out in the public, with people approaching me all day. We have masks, but many members of the public don’t wear them or respect social distancing. Lots of people tell me, ‘I don’t believe in it’ or ‘it’s not real’. It’s tough at home too. I have two teenagers. My food bills are significantly higher as the kids are home all day and they’re bored so they’re eating more. I have no time to myself, whether it’s at work or at home, I feel I’m always ‘on’. I’m doing shift work, then cleaning and looking after the children, then it all starts again. There’s just no space. My daughter has been rejected from her course at university because of the backlog of students from last year, which is really getting her down. I really worry about them. It’s a constant juggling act.”
Alice works on a mental health ward as an activity coordinator said: “I have a constant fear about coming into work. Particularly after several patients died. Your mental health takes a real battering. It’s like walking into the gates of hell. My daughter is pregnant and works in the private care sector. I’m constantly worrying I might give the virus to her or she will catch it at work. Her employer hasn’t even provided her with a risk assessment. It’s shocking. I can’t sleep at night because I’m so stressed about it all.”
Sally is an ambulance care assistant, she says: “I was in the military and got paid danger money. In this job I’m risking my life every day for £10.94 an hour. The past year in the job has been harder than doing a tour in Afghanistan. It’s mentally hard. I see families crying everyday as they welcome back loved ones who they thought they may not see again – some had said their goodbyes. I miss having my hair and eyebrows done too. I look like I’ve been sleeping rough. I just don’t feel comfortable.”
– Women Working Through the Pandemic is released to coincide with the opening day of Empowering Women. This virtual event replaces the annual women’s conference, which usually takes place in February. Speakers include Christina McAnea and deputy leader of the Labour Party Angela Rayner MP.
-UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.
Media contacts:
Tony Pearson 07801578985 E: t.pearson@unison.co.uk