Workers skip meals, TUC finds

A new TUC poll shows that around one in six workers have skipped a meal regularly in the past three months to make ends meet.

The YouGov poll of 2,544 adults in the UK, of which 1,513 were working full or part time, found many workers continuing to struggle with the cost-of-living crisis.

Nearly a quarter of working adults have made large or significant cuts in food spending over the last 12 months and nearly a fifth cut back on other essentials, including medicine, personal hygiene products and petrol.

One in 10 reported going into debt most or every month over the last year, and nearly a third said they had avoided putting the heating on most or every day over the last three months.

One in five had reduced their use of hot water for showers or baths on most or every day to reduce spending.

The TUC said the findings showed the legacy of “14 years of Tory stagnation” and delivering the government’s Employment Rights Bill is vital for boosting living standards. This will “crack down on insecure work, boost sick pay and establish a Fair Work Agency to tackle bad bosses”, said TUC general secretary Paul Nowak.