A Ceredigion school worker has backed calls for the £500 Covid thank you bonus - paid to care workers and NHS workers - to be extended to more staff.

Unison has called on the Welsh government to “ensure no public service worker suffers detriment with the new ways of working” and to extend the £500 bonus scheme.

Alison Boshier, Unison Ceredigion branch secretary and school support worker said that the situation was “insulting”, and many teaching assistants are “not coping financially”.

“I’m a low-paid school worker and when the lockdown hit, my husband had to isolate and couldn’t do overtime, which we rely on to make ends meet,” she said.

“It was particularly tough financially through those winter months.

“There are thousands of people in the same position as us in Wales.

“I had to work from home all day and when it was cold, that meant keeping the heating on all day.

“When we ran out of oil, we had to use electric bar heaters which are even more expensive.

“It’s insulting that my husband and I had to make choices about whether we could afford to be warm. It’s summer now but the internet and lights are still on all day.

“There are so many hidden expenses which employers are not accounting for or compensating their low-paid workers, many of whom are part-time.

“I had calls from so many teaching assistants with young families telling me they’re not coping financially.”

The union said that “many low paid, mainly female public service workers in Wales, including school support staff, have been left hundreds of pounds worse off because of the costs of working from home”.

The public services union released survey data showing 9 in 10 of these workers have not been reimbursed by their employer for extra costs incurred.

Lianne Dallimore, chair of Unison Cymru Wales local government committee, said: “The pandemic and lockdown haven’t affected everyone equally.

“Many of those who are low paid and working from home have been left struggling to survive.

“These people include public service workers who kept vital community services running throughout lockdown and ensured virtual learning could continue for school children.

“You can’t question their dedication, yet Unison has received reports from across Wales these same workers are hundreds of pounds worse off because of home working.

“The Covid bonus of £500 should be extended to all council workers who played their part serving their community during lockdown, including school staff, refuse workers, meals on wheels service and many more.”