Higher workloads

An all-member survey by the NUJ journalists’ union found more than half of those responding said they have had mental health concerns during the pandemic. They reported that feelings of isolation, anxiety about losing their job, symptoms of long Covid, and higher workloads led to depression and insomnia. Up to 45% of the 840 respondents in the survey, which was carried out in December 2020 and January 2021, said they were struggling to cope with juggling childcare, home-schooling and getting work done.

“The main issue seems to be the pressure caused by last year’s redundancies — people working longer hours, or very intensively with fewer casuals available to provide cover,” said NUJ national organiser Laura Davidson.

The union found that having a good employer made all the difference. One respondent reported: “We’re just about juggling but the BBC has been very supportive, allowing us to change hours and work slightly less.”