Calls for Government Advert to be Pulled Because Worker is on Sofa

THE BRITISH SAFETY COUNCIL is urging the Government to withdraw an advert immediately, as it says the ad implies that people working from home should be working from their sofas.

The Government COVID-19 advert encourages the nation to “stay home, protect the NHS, save lives”, with the strapline ‘every online meeting is making a difference’. It shows a picture of a woman sitting on a sofa cross-legged using a laptop.

The Council says the advert “shows a complete lack of understanding around health and safety, the musculoskeletal conditions that can arise from a poor work set up and the wider impact on worker health and wellbeing, which is well documented to have deteriorated during the pandemic”.

Legitimising Proor Practice

Mike Robinson, Chief Executive at the British Safety Council, said: “The Government should be leading by example on health and safety matters but has fallen well short with this advert, which sends the wrong message about worker health and wellbeing. The Government advert risks legitimising poor practice, the costs of which ultimately end up on the NHS, at a time it is hard pressed in managing COVID and the largest vaccine rollout programme ever in the UK.”

“The advert needs to be withdrawn straightaway. We would happily advise the Government on what is a more appropriate picture for its message.”