1. Action for M.E.
Welfare Reform
Consultation Survey
October 2008

2. People no
longer in
employment

3. Have you previously been in paid employment?
Yes No
Total Responses: 779

4. Were you employed by someone else or self-
employed?
Employed by someone else
Self-employed
Total Responses: 712

5. How many hours did you used to work
each week?
1-5 hours
6-10 hours
11-16 hours
17-24 hours
25-40 hours
Over 40 hours
Total Responses: 696

6. If you were in paid employment, why did you stop?
Return to education 11
To have children 18
Other caring responsibilities 7
I was dismissed 12
My company closed 5
I was made redundant 15
I was advised to leave 54
I decided to leave 90
I was forced to leve 326
Advised to take ill-health retirement 75
Decided to take ill-health retirement 24
Other 79
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400
Total Responses: 715

7. If you were advised to leave or take ill-health
retirement, who gave you this advice?
Family/friends 39
Citizen’s Advice Bureau 1
Independent advisory service 10
Line manager 53
Human resources 97
Occupational health 60
Other 97
0 20 40 60 80 100
Total Responses: 278

8. Please select the closest match to the
sector of your former paid employment.
Agriculture, hunting and forestry 5
Fishing
Mining and quarrying
Manufacturing 38
Electricity, gas and water supply 7
Construction 8
Wholesale and retail 56
Hotels and restaurants 18
Transport, storage and communication 15
Banking, finance and insurance 48
Real estate 16
Public administration and defence 58
Education 124
Health and social work 131
Other community, social and personal services 29
Domestic services 9
International organizations 2
Other 147
0 30 60 90 120 150
Total Responses: 711

9. Which of the following best matches the
work that you did?
Managerial 97
Professional 244
Technical 37
Academic and research 22
Clerical 164
Service and sales 67
Manual 56
Craft 14
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Total Responses: 701

10. How long is it since you were in paid
employment?
Less than a year
1-2 years
3-5 years
More than 5 years
Never
Total Responses: 709

11. When did you last search for paid
employment?
In the last month
1-6 months ago
7-12 months ago
More than a year ago
Never
Can’t remember
Total Responses: 723

12. If you have tried to get back into paid employment, how
supportive have you found potential employers to be?
Very supportive
Supportive
Neither supportive nor unsupportive
Unsupportive
Hostile
Total Responses: 158

13. If you have tried to get back into paid employment, how
informed have you found potential employers to be?
Very well informed
Quite well informed
Less informed than they should be
Not informed
Misinformed
Total Responses: 146

14. Are you engaged in any of the following?
Distance learning 71
Further or higher education 26
Short adult education course (vocational) 21
Short adult education course (leisure) 47
Voluntary work 118
Other 47
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Total Responses: 278

15. What are your expectations for gaining paid
employment in the future?
I am looking for paid employment
I do not need to gain paid employment
I will never work again because of my health
I will work again only if my health improves
Other
Total Responses: 759

16. Do you feel that you are well enough to
undertake paid employment?
Yes No
Total Responses: 762

17. If yes, how many hours of paid employment do you
think you could undertake?
1-5 hours
6-10 hours
11-16 hours
17-24 hours
25-40 hours
Over 40 hours
Total Responses: 101

18. What is the maximum distance you feel you would be
able to travel to undertake paid employment?
Work from home
0-2 miles
3-5 miles
6-10 miles
11-20 miles
Over 20 miles
Total Responses: 379

19. What is the maximum time that you would be able to
spend travelling to work?
Less than 5 minutes
5-15 minutes
16-30 minutes
30 minutes - 1 hour
1-2 hours
More than 2 hours
Total Responses: 325

20. What practical help would you require in order to
undertake paid employment?
Flexible hours
Working from home
Special equipment
Lighter duties
Frequent breaks
Support from occupational health
Re-training
Transport to workplace
Allocated car parking
Regular meetings with employer
Buddy at work
Understanding attitude
M.E. awareness training
Time off for medical appointments
Quiet place to rest
0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225
1st 2nd 3rd
Total Responses: 557

21. What practical help would you require in order to
undertake paid employment?
Flexible hours
Working from home
Special equipment
Lighter duties
Frequent breaks
Support from occupational health
Re-training
Transport to workplace
Allocated car parking
Regular meetings with employer
Buddy at work
Understanding attitude
M.E. awareness training
Time off for medical appointments
Quiet place to rest
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400
1st 2nd 3rd
Total Responses: 557

22. Which aspects of your illness do you consider to be
the greatest barriers for you in terms of gaining paid
employment?
Difficulty with cognition 615
Chronic pain 393
Fluctuating health 527
Overwhelming exhaustion 593
Co-morbid depression 114
Post-exertional malaise 492
Sensory disturbance 399
Other 145
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
Total Responses: 737

23. Are there other barriers to you gaining
paid employment?
No other barriers 101
Employers not taking on people with health problems 138
Employers preferring younger workers 21
Lack of suitable employment 120
Financially better off on benefits 17
Transport problems 33
Skills out of date 51
Lack of childcare 6
Other 116
0 30 60 90 120 150
Total Responses: 603

24. Would you like to be in paid employment?
Yes No
Total Responses: 728

25. If no, is this because :-
I do not need paid employment
I have caring responsibilities
I have retired
Other
Total Responses: 244

26. Would you like to be in work-related activities which
aim to help you back into work, such as the following :-
177
Help in finding employment
186
125
Specific job searches
194
177
Training programmes
185
149
Condition management programmes
187
222
Voluntary work
153
161
Work-tasters
182
0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225
Yes No
Total Responses: 480