Almost a quarter of key workers are planning on resigning from their job once the COVID-19 crisis has passed.
This is according to Blink, a smart employee app that found that 24 per cent of key workers are deeply concerned for their own safety during the pandemic and are planning on leaving their job. It was also found that 34 per cent of key workers do not think their boss has done enough to address their concerns.
Nearly half (40 per cent) believe that employers have not communicated efficiently on how staff can protect themselves during the crisis and have deemed the overall communication as ‘poor’.
Over a quarter (28 per cent) of key workers feel their voice is not heard when it comes to demanding workplace safety. Also, 45 per cent say more should be invested in tools that help to reduce contact with others.
In addition to the physical damage the virus can bring, 32 per cent feel they were not provided with the mental health support needed to help deal with the impact of COVID-19.
This news comes as it has been announced by Amnesty International a charity whose mission is “to undertake research and action focused on preventing and ending grave abuses of the rights to physical and mental integrity, freedom of conscience and expression” found that the UK has the second-highest death toll among health and social care workers in the world thanks to COVID-19. Currently, 540 of these workers have died in the UK compared to 545 in Russia.
Sean Nolan, CEO and founder of Blink said:
Frontline workers have already exposed themselves and their loved ones to enormous risk during this pandemic. It’s worrying that such a large proportion of our NHS staff, bus drivers and other key workers still don’t feel safe.
If the past 3 months have proven anything, it’s the critical role key workers play in society. Now is the time to invest in our frontline: to protect them, show our gratitude, and better equip them to serve the public. New technology can usher in a new era for the frontline.
When the frontline has everything they need to stay safe at their fingertips – from regular welfare updates and temperature checking tools, to a voice in daily operations – they can finally work with peace of mind.
In order to obtain these results, Censuswide, a research company spoke to 1,099 key workers across the UK on behalf of Blink.
Darius is the editor of HRreview. He has previously worked as a finance reporter for the Daily Express. He studied his journalism masters at Press Association Training and graduated from the University of York with a degree in History.
