REPORT | OCTOBER 2020
New research reveals the ugly truth about worker attitudes
Job security tops COVID symptoms DALLAS SHERRINGHAM LARMING new figures show 70% of Aussies admit they would still present to work with cold or flu symptoms despite the COVID-19 crisis. The eye opening new research has revealed that, as more people head back to the workplace, the COVID-19 pandemic may surge again in Western Sydney. The findings come from an independent survey of a nationally representative panel of 1000 Australian employees, commissioned by Cleancorp (cleancorp. com) – a specialist Australian anti-viral cleaning company that has helped hundreds of organisations keep their workplaces and communities safe during the pandemic. The Australian Government has told Australians to stay home and get tested for COVID-19 if they feel unwell with COVID-19 symptoms, even mild ones. Even so, research from Cleancorp found that more than half of Aussies would present to work with a headache. Although a stuff y nose, runny nose, sore throat, tingly throat, or fatigue could be early symptoms of COVID-19 or the flu, an equal 38% of respondents said they would still go into the office with these symptoms. And 32% would present to work with a cough, 22% would do so with a stomach ache, and a fifth would go in with muscle or body aches and chills. It seems that under-30s would be more likely to present to work with cold or flu symptoms. Half would do so with a sore or tingly throat, 46% with a runny or stuff y nose, 40% with a cough, 27% with a stomach ache, and 18% with nausea – all higher proportions than the total respondent average. When asked to reveal why they would present to work with these symptoms, the most common answer was that the symptoms were not serious enough to justify taking time off work. Almost half said it was because they would have too much on at work, with no one else available to do their job. And 29% think their employer won’t regard their symptoms as serious enough,
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while an equal 24% don’t want to use up their sick leave or say they will have pressure from their employer to present to work. The survey results highlight an issue concerning casual and contract workers, who do not receive payment for sick or annual leave. More than a fifth of survey respondents admit they would present to work with cold or flu symptoms because they cannot afford to not get paid. With more than 2.6 million casual workers in Australia, this indicates that 546,000 casual workers would present to work with symptoms. Casual workers are predominantly employed in retail, social assistance services, construction, health, education and road transport – workplaces that, especially in the current coronavirus climate, are generally difficult to operate with workers in self-isolation.
Type of symptom
% of workers that would come to work with said symptom, even if they are minor
Casual workers are a concern Co-Founder and Director at Cleancorp Lisa Macqueen said: “Now that we are facing the genuine threat of a virus ‘double whammy’ – COVID-19 and the flu – it is more important than ever not to go to work when feeling unwell.” “Our findings reveal that many employees come to work when sick because of feelings of guilt or a fear of being judged by their bosses. However, now that we’re in a pandemic, going to work sick because you feel obliged to is no longer acceptable. “As a significant proportion of employees re-enter their workplaces – either partially or fully – organisations must do everything they can to minimise the risks of viruses spreading among their employees, customers, and visitors. “Employers need to understand that shared desks, meeting rooms and breakout spaces may no longer be safe to use and occupy and those old spray-andwipe principles will also be inadequate for keeping surfaces virus-free. “Instead, using the right equipment, chemicals, and deep-cleaning processes is more important, with a focus on frequently disinfecting ‘shared touchpoints,’ such as door handles, light switches, elevator buttons, and microwaves.
A mild headache
54%
A sore throat or tingly throat
38%
Runny or stuffy nose
38%
Fatigue
38%
A cough
32%
Stomach ache
22%
Muscle or body aches and chills
20%
Nausea
14%
A low-grade fever
10%
Q. What would be your reason for coming to work if you had the above symptoms? I don’t think these symptoms are serious enough to take time off work
58%
Too much on at work, and no one else available to do my work if I take sick leave
42%
My employer won’t think these symptoms are serious enough to take time off work
29%
Too much pressure from my employer to come to work
24%
Don’t want to use up my sick leave, or have no sick leave left
24%
I don’t get paid if I take sick leave
21%
“While it is encouraging to see that many of our clients are asking for heavy-duty anti-viral cleans, we need to
see a strong shift towards a ‘stay at home if you’re unwell’ mentality to contain the coronavirus successfully.”
Thanks a million: COVID cleaners step up ORE than one million extra cleaning hours have been carried out across the entire public transport network since March to keep customers and staff COVID safe. Minister for Transport Andrew Constance said more than 1,400 extra cleaners have been employed to support the delivery of a COVID safe public transport system. “Six months ago we pledged to keep our customers and staff as safe as possible on public transport and support the
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return to a COVID Safe economy. “Reaching the amazing milestone of one million extra cleaning hours not only shows our commitment to slowing the spread of the virus but our enhanced cleaning regime has provided a lifeline for those who found themselves out of work due to the virus. “Many of our new contract cleaners for Sydney Trains have come from different industries, including hospitality, teaching and engineering, and are not only keeping the network COVID-safe
but are also able to continue working in their local communities and I thank them for all of their hard work,” Mr Constance said. Minister for Regional Transport Paul Toole said the NSW Government’s $250M Cleaning Stimulus has seen cleaning ramped up across the regional bus and train public transport network. “It’s critical that our customers feel safe and that’s why we’ve increased our cleaning regime including rolling out dedicated cleaners on busy bus routes
in Tweed Heads and vehicle sanitisation stations for point to point transport providers in Albury, Dubbo, Newcastle, Tweed Heads, Tamworth and the Central Coast,” Mr Toole said. “From bushfires, to floods, to COVID-19, this has been a very tough time for the people in regional NSW and we thank everyone who has been on the frontline to help keep our communities safe and connected.” VIDEO: www.netwerx.com.au
WESTERN SYDNEY BUSINESS ACCESS OCTOBER 2020
