Pandemic’s lockdown leaves UK workers better off, survey shows
Potential good news for charities – two-thirds of UK workers surveyed for a recent study say they are financially better off since lockdown.
The Censuswide survey, commissioned by Eskenzi PR, questioned 1,000 people and found that 30% said they saved on lunches by working from home, 60% of people saved money by not going out, and 50% saved on commuting costs.
Sector by sector, the study found that almost 90% of those employed in the financial sector reported savings. Those in IT, Legal, HR and Education also managed to increase their savings while 65% of retail workers, builders and manual labourers questioned reported being better off financially since March 2020.
Workers managed to save an average of £820 over the 6-month lockdown period by making lunch at home – based on an average cost of eating out at lunch of £3.56, Monday to Friday. Scaled up, this could reach £8.1bn saved on out-of-home lunches nationwide the study claims.
The survey also found that 30% of respondents believed they won’t be back in the office until 2021, and 75% reported that their employers will allow flexible working, enabling these saving patterns to continue.
Yvonne Eskenzi, Co-founder of Eskenzi PR commented:
“Eskenzi PR’s survey shows that workers aren’t keen to rush back to work full time with saving costs by not commuting and buying lunches being a major factor. However, for 40% they’re ready to go back to work for 2 to 3 days a week. It all comes down to the employers now – will most of them allow their staff the freedom to work flexibility?”
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