'Chaotic life' for Scottish workers during the pandemic revealed in new publication
The first of four volumes of evidence to be published as part of the next phase of the Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry has been released.
Scots say they were left working in unsafe environments, struggled to balance remote working with caring responsibilities, and have been left with poorly-understood conditions thanks to the coronavirus pandemic.
These are just some of the testimonies describing how “life was chaotic” in a new document published as part of the Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry.
‘Voices from Businesses and Individuals’ is the first of four volumes of evidence to be published, and it draws on the experiences of more than 12,500 Scots, including key workers and those who were made redundant during the pandemic.
The testimonies reveal stark differences in how workers were treated and protected depending on their sector, employer and role.
Many who shifted to remote working described mourning pressure in trying to combine their jobs with childcare and home-schooling. One healthcare key worker, who was also an unpaid carer, said: “The challenges were having to work from home and support my then fourth year pupil son who has ADD - this increased stress as a working mother trying to juggle work and support.”
An office manager said: “[My manager] did not believe the virus existed, bullied staff to work under threat of losing their jobs. One workplace should have been closed but he ‘forged’ papers … to say we were critical workers.”
The new publication also highlights feelings of inequity amongst those who had to continue working and those who were furloughed.
One healthcare key worker said: “Compared to the working from home and the furloughed workers we did our jobs as usual but risking our health every day and with minimum support from other partner agencies … what I want is the recognition, value and respect that social workers in the community deserve.”
Another who was a local government key worker said: “I worked all the way through while others were on furlough. It was stressful, exhausting and I don’t think there is enough recognition for people who worked throughout.”
One local authority manager added: “It was fair to say life was chaotic. None of us knew what was to happen.”
The documents published today also describe widespread confusion over who did and did not qualify as a key worker, with drastic variations across the country.
One renewable business owner said: “We had to shut down apart from three employees who worked as key workers. Was very clear to us that we should officially have been recognised as key workers by police or Scottish Government but sector suggested we were [not].”
This confusion also extended to the £500 thank you payment for frontline workers, with one saying: “Even though my workmates and I were classed as ‘essential workers’ we didn’t receive the £500 payment other frontline workers and home workers received.”
Another said the payment after deductions was insufficient: “The government announced a £500 thank you, but in reality no staff got £500 in hand pro rata … even full-time staff getting £257 after tax, etc. Part time we saw £149.”
The report also recounts Scots’ experiences with long Covid, which testimonies say is poorly and inadequately by employers and the NHS.
Some respondents said they had to return to work before they were ready, with others staying there needed to be an easier and quicker way to access financial support and sick pay.
The next phase of the inquiry, implementation hearings, are due to begin in Edinburgh on October 5.
A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: “Our sympathies are with all those who lost a loved one to Covid-19 during the pandemic and this publication from the ‘let’s be heard’ project underlines the significant impact of the pandemic and its effects on workers and businesses across Scotland.
“The Scottish Government is cooperating fully with the UK and Scottish Covid-19 inquiries and will consider the evidence from this ‘let’s be heard’ report closely.
“We support both independent inquiries in their work to explore the handling of the pandemic and to identify the vital lessons we all need to learn.”
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