Employment problems still rising
Leading local advice charity Citizens Advice Exeter, has today released its advice trend statistics for the period 1 April – 31st December 2017.
The charity has helped 7448 people directly with advice and information since 1 April. The overall advice trends, compared to the same period in the previous year, were as follows:
Employment
Overall, the charity saw a 4.8% increase in employment enquiries. The main changes being:
• 26.3% increase about pay and entitlements
• 14.8% increase about employment tribunals and appeals
• 37.0% reduction about terms and conditions
Case studies – focus on employment problems
• A client who was working on a zero hour’s contract through a local employment agency who did not receive his contractual holiday pay when he left.
• A client who, despite being signed off by his GP, was told that he had to cover his sickness absence with holiday, and had deductions from his wages without consent
• A client whose wages were paid late and was advised by their line manager to contact the Head Office. However, the client was not able to get through on the telephone number provided, and was not provided with an email address, or postal address for the Head Office.
Welfare benefits
Overall, the charity saw an 11.6% increase in welfare benefit enquiries. The main changes being:
• 102.3% increase about support with council tax
• 19.3% increase about housing benefit
• 16.2% increase about disability benefits (PIP/DLA)
• 11.4% increase about employment and support allowance
The charity has also dealt with 113 enquires about Universal Credit so far this year.
Debt
Overall, the charity saw a 0.2% increase in debt enquiries. The main changes being:
• 37.6% increase about debt relief orders and bankruptcy
• 14.9% increase about fuel debts
• 35.2% reduction about credit card arrears
• 46.9% reduction about unsecured loans
Housing
Overall, the charity saw a 10.5% reduction in housing enquiries. The main changes being:
• 53.2% reduction about actual homelessness
• 29.4% reduction about private sector property
• 28.8% reduction about threatened homelessness
Chief Executive Steve Barriball said: “We hear regularly of the economic growth and prosperity within the City, but these latest figures suggest that for many of our clients this is not something that they would readily recognise”
“Tackling issues such as employment status and one-way flexibility could make a huge difference to people currently struggling at the sharp end of insecure work. But to make any proposed improvements a reality the government must ensure effective enforcement.”
“As it stands responsibility for enforcement is spread across a bewildering number of bodies, making it hard for people to know where to turn if they’re being treated unfairly at work. The Supreme Court’s ruling that fees for Employment Tribunals are unlawful marks an end to Employment Tribunal fees standing in the way of people upholding their employment rights. It is surely no coincidence that the number of people coming to us for help with employment tribunals is up by over 14% at the same time as fees have been abolished!”
“We repeat our call on the government to create a single Fair Work Authority which can clamp down on illegal business practices, making it easier for people to get the rights to which they’re entitled.”
“Our commitment is always to provide the advice people need for the problems they face. However, we can only continue to do this if we have the necessary resources and we need to increase public and business donations. Anyone wishing to support our work can donate on-line by going to the Support Us section of our website.”
Alternatively, donations can be made in person at the charity’s offices on Dix’s Field in Exeter.
