Self-employed still facing difficulties in Phase Five

Monday 27 July 2020

A majority of islanders have fully returned to work in Phase Five, although some are still at a lower pay-rate or only able to work partially, according to the fourth Community Monitoring Report.

92% of employed people surveyed by the report were able to work fully by the third week of Phase Five, up from 75% during the final week of Phase Three. 94% of those working fully were also receiving the same rate of pay as they had previously.

However, only 78% of self-employed residents have been able to return to work fully, with only 69% of those receiving their normal rate of pay, despite 32% of respondents in this group reporting increased working hours than before.

54% of employed workers who are only able to work partially are still receiving the normal rate of pay, according to the report.

The report suggests that the different nature of self-employed work has led to this discrepancy. Self-employed workers who are unable to work fully have cited a lack of customers, event cancellations relating to their work, and a need to provide childcare at home as some of the reasons for this.

4% of employed residents, and five per cent of self-employed residents, are still entirely unable to work, owing to a lack of work or customers, or in the case of employed residents, some are still furloughed by their employer.

Out of the 942 responses received, 804 were employed and 138 were self-employed. 2 per cent of respondents requested additional information and support at the end of the survey with concerns about their businesses for self-employed people, and fears about returning to their workplace for the employed.

Unless a new need arises to monitor coronavirus-like symptoms, the Community Monitoring Tool will be decommissioned at the end of September. A Community Survey remains open until July 30 with the hopes of producing a ‘detailed picture’ of the experiences of islanders during the pandemic.

Pictured top: The fourth Community Monitoring Report shows a vast majority of islanders able to return to work, however, a sizeable number are still seeing reduced pay, or facing difficulties returning to work fully.