Disabled workers

Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show that 59% of all deaths involving COVID-19 between March and July 2020 were disabled people. The UCU lecturers’ union points out that disabled people made up only around 16% of the population in the 2011 Census.

Its guidance for disabled workers returning to work says that, during the pandemic, disabled workers have raised concerns including the impact of living and working in isolation, not having the necessary equipment, an increase in stress and anxiety and the exacerbation of existing health and mental health issues impacted by the virus. They have also raised concerns about, for example, using public transport to get to and from work, and how social distancing measures affect getting in and around the workplace.