HUMAN RESOURCES

Women on the frontline are 'exhausted' survey warns

Women working in local government have warned the emotional, physical and financial impact of the pandemic is taking its toll, a new survey has revealed.

Women working in local government have warned the emotional, physical and financial impact of the pandemic is taking its toll, a new survey has revealed.

The survey of nearly 47,000 women in key worker positions by UNISON - including council workers - said they are losing sleep, feeling stressed and sending more on household bills due to COVID-19.

Of those surveyed, nearly two thirds (65%) are not sleeping well, 57% are feeling stressed most of the time and 61% are worried about the mental health of their children.

Nearly half of those surveyed earn £18,000 a year of less, with a third having an annual salary of £15,000 or less. However, the pandemic has forced 45% of the women to increase their spending on food, energy, technology, transport and housing.

UNISON general secretary, Christina McAnea, said: ‘Public services would have come to a standstill without the vital jobs done by women in our schools, hospitals, police forces and local councils.

'But employees are exhausted. They're worn out from meeting work demands during COVID while caring for relatives, looking after children and dealing with debt. Those on low wages are the ones shouldering these burdens most of all.

'All women deserve better and this country's economic recovery depends on them. But their mental and physical health is at stake.'

UNISON is calling on the Government to make sure childcare is affordable, maintain the £20 increase to Universal Credit and ensure employers offer more flexible working.

HUMAN RESOURCES

Call for Government to fix 'broken' children's social care

By Ann McGauran | 10 July 2025

Urgent action is needed to fix a ‘broken’ children’s social care system and give all young people the future they deserve, the chair of the Commons Education...

HUMAN RESOURCES

Redefining strength in leadership

By Rebecca Hopkin | 09 July 2025

The emotional toll of senior leadership has never been greater, but as Rebecca Hopkin explains, it’s okay to speak about not being okay.

HUMAN RESOURCES

Concern over areas 'left behind' by devolution

By Martin Ford | 08 July 2025

Angela Rayner has rebutted concerns from Labour MPs that areas are being left behind in the race to devolve powers.

HUMAN RESOURCES

Prioritising stroke is an evidence-based choice for councils

By Juliet Bouverie | 08 July 2025

Piling pressure on a crumbling system won’t support stroke survivors, says Juliet Bouverie.

Popular articles by Laura Sharman