Zarah ChoudharyNearly six in 10 (59%) business leaders say that staff have had to take time off in the past year because of problems accessing public services, according to Trades Union Congress (TUC) polling.
A recent poll of more than 500 business leaders indicated that staff absences were increasingly tied to public service pressures.
Business leaders reported that employees have missed work for reasons such as waiting for hospital treatment (35%), caring for a relative who lacks adequate adult social care (20%), awaiting mental health care (17%), inability to access suitable childcare (17%), looking after a child with special educational needs (16%), and waiting for work visas to be processed (13%).
The TUC urged the Government to address systemic issues to strengthen the economy’s foundations by bolstering public services, reducing lost working days, and enhancing productivity.
94% of respondents agreed that high-quality public services were crucial to economic success, 81% said they were essential for their business’ success, and 89% believed that public service improvements should be a high Government priority.
Business leaders reported that specific improvements would benefit their operations, including greater NHS capacity for quicker medical appointments and treatments (69%), better-quality schools to ensure a high standard of basic skills among school leavers (66%), more extensive and frequent public transportation networks (65%), better-funded industry regulators (63%), increased availability of affordable childcare (60%), and enhanced public spaces (60%).
The TUC welcomed the Labour Government’s efforts to tackle the public sector’s recruitment and retention crisis, including funding to hire 6,500 more teachers to address school shortages.
The union called for further investment to repair public services and upgrade infrastructure through the national budget.
It advocated for a Public Sector Workforce Commission to address workforce challenges, implement fair pay-setting mechanisms in the public sector, and reform pay review bodies for improved representation, transparency, timeliness, and political independence.
Additionally, the TUC said it supports fairer tax policies to ensure that those earning income from wealth contribute adequately to public service improvements.
Paul Nowak, general secretary at the TUC, said: “A country with great public services is a great place to do business.
“You’ve got a healthy and skilled workforce, travel is fast and reliable, and your workers can access the care services they and their families need.
“But the Conservatives left our public services in complete disrepair.
“Our polling shows that more than half of businesses report losing staff time because they have problems accessing vital public services.
“This is having a massive impact on working people, companies, and the economy.
“It’s time to fix the foundations of our economy – and that means fixing our public services.
“The Chancellor knows already how desperate people are for an end to NHS waiting lists, and access to affordable childcare and decent schools.
“She clearly has the green light from businesses to prioritise public services too.”
