TUC Poll Reveals Business Impact of Public Service Issues

A recent poll by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) revealed that 59% of UK business leaders reported staff absences due to issues accessing public services, with 35% of those attributed to waiting for hospital treatment. Additionally, 20% of leaders indicated employees took time off to care for relatives lacking adequate social care, while 17% reported absences related to mental health treatment and childcare difficulties. The TUC argues that the current underfunding of public services is detrimental to both employee well-being and business productivity. As the Labour government prepares for a budget that may include tax rises and increased investment in public services, the TUC emphasizes that improvements are critical for economic success. Business leaders largely agree, noting that high-quality public services are vital for their operations and the economy as a whole. The TUC is advocating for a public-sector workforce commission to address these challenges and improve service delivery.