Mayfield report misses key issues
PCS notes the content of the recently published Mayfield report and is extremely disappointed that as a significant stakeholder in social security provision, the ministers with responsibility for DWP denied PCS the opportunity to consult on it
If the report published yesterday is fully implemented it will mean significant changes to service provision so will impact both our DWP members in work, and the service users that we are here to support.
The report advocates handing over significant powers to employers, written entirely from an employers' perspective it pays no regard to how pressures of work can contribute to ill health; no mention of workplace stress, insecure work, or employers paying such poverty pay that workers are reliant on benefit payments.
The report further fails to address critical factors such as NHS waiting lists for physical and mental health conditions, the high levels of poor quality and overcrowded housing, and actual levels of poverty across society.
PCS DWP Group President Angela Grant said: “Of course we want to support those who can work to work but, contrary to its apparent intent, the implementation of this report might see more workers forced out of work. PCS has collated actual evidence that shows the damaging impact that work-related pressures and lack of employer support can have, certainly the hard line taken against OHS advice which this report in part relies on, with a further reliance on broken public services. We want government to work with PCS, the union that is on the front line of social security, so we can help them implement a fit-for-purpose service that comes off the page and into reality.”
PCS General Secretary Fran Heathcote had earlier said: "We all want to tackle workplace ill health and there are some interesting proposals which now require wider consultation – not just with employers, but vitally with trade unions representing workers, and those who claim benefits. We have real concerns about proposals that would impose conditionality on workers for health issues [..] While work can undoubtedly contribute to good health, cultures of long hours, workplace stress, insecure work, and low pay can also worsen health too and there is no discussion of this in Mayfield's report."