A new study carried out by GQR for the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has found that, owing to the current disability pay gap, the average disabled worker in the UK is significantly more likely to avoid spending money on essentials than non-disabled workers.
GQR’s research shows that 34% of disabled workers have cut back on food for themselves compared to 18% of non-disabled workers, and 35% have foregone heating on a cold day (18% more than those without a disability).
According to separate TUC research, the disability pay gap stands at 15.5%, meaning that disabled full-time workers earn, on average, around £3,000 less per year than non-disabled workers. This is equivalent to £1.65 less per hour worked. Due to this pay gap, the average disabled worker in the UK will effectively be paid for 57 fewer days per year.
The TUC argues that the current Conservative government has not done enough to combat this inequality. The government has cut support for disabled people, failed to legislate that employers release their disability pay gaps, and dropped its manifesto promise to reduce the disability employment gap.
GQR designed and carried out the survey of 2,700 working people aged 16 and over in Great Britain. Fieldwork was conducted online, with results weighted to the national profile of working people by age, gender, region, social grade, ethnicity, work status, and work sector.
Data tables for the poll are available to download here.
For more information, contact GQR’s London Vice President Peter McLeod, on Twitter @mcleodp or info@gqrr.com.