- Conference
- 2024 National Health Care Service Group Conference
- Date
- 8 December 2023
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes the recent work done by UNISON in relation to hidden costs of working that can impact on health care workers and employees.
Far too many workers are being charged for the very essentials they need to go to work. Examples include uniforms and DBS checks.
Conference recognises that the biggest costs are often passed onto those least able to afford them. Recent UNISON research on criminal record checks shows that more than four in five (85%) of public service workers requiring criminal record checks earn below the average wage in the UK, with two in five of them seeing their wages deducted to pay for it.
For transgender, non-binary and gender diverse people (trans), these costs can be even higher as they may require additional uniforms to meet their needs. Some trans people have reported having to pay twice for DBS checks.
Trans people are currently experiencing a lack of trust in the NHS due to interference from the trans hostile Westminster Government. Combined with these additional costs, health no longer feels like a welcoming place of work for trans people.
Health needs a diverse workforce to best represent the people we serve, however without action we may lose a significant number of our trans health workers.
Conference therefore calls for The Health Service Group Executive to:
1. Work with the National LGBT+ Committee to collect evidence of the financial hardship incurred by our trans members working in health because of employment costs being passed onto workers.
2. Raise the issue of in-work costs experienced by members to UNISON’s regions and branches, including the specific issues experienced by our trans health care workers.