New HSE Stress Website

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched a new version of its work-related stress website, with a range of advice, online tools and guidance to help you tackle stress in your workplace.

For those familiar with the old site, this revised version is designed to be more accessible and provides tailored messages for different audiences.

Of particular interest to AMiE members is a brand new self-assessment tool for line managers to test their skills.

Please visit the HSE Stress website to find out more.

TUC Welcomes Increase in Apprenticeships

Responding to the Government’s announcement of 21,000 new Apprenticeships across the public sector, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:

“As well as encouraging employers to take on apprentices, it’s good to see the Government practising what it preaches and taking on trainees across the public sector too.

“The Government should now use its purchasing power to make sure companies that bid for public sector contracts provide more Apprenticeship opportunities. Unions are committed to high quality Apprenticeships and believe they should be at the heart of a skills-based economy that we would like to see emerge from the recession.”

Work Your Proper Hours

Work Your Proper Hours Day will be held on 27 February 2009. It is the day when the average person who does unpaid overtime finishes the unpaid days they do and starts earning for themselves. The TUC, supported by AMiE, think that’s a day worth celebrating.

Last year a survey of college managers found that two out of three regularly worked in excess of 48 hours per week (ACM Survey Autumn 2007).

Long hours are not good for us; they cause stress; they’re bad for our health; they wreck relationships; they make caring for children or dependents more difficult; and tired, burnt-out staff are bad for business. Work Your Proper Hours Day is designed to highlight the issue of excessive hours and raise awareness of the impact on family life and health.

To find out more, and to download posters and other resources, visit the Work Your Proper Hours Day website.

FE Unions Step Up Pay Campaign

With a significant number of colleges refusing to meet the pay award negotiated at the National Joint Forum, the six unions are stepping up their campaign with the launch of a new website (see below).

The pay award, which affects staff working in English FE colleges, is for 3.2% or £550, whichever is greater; and runs for 10 months from October 2008.

David Green, AMiE’s Director of Employment Services said, “Although many colleges have paid the agreed rise, there are a number who haven’t. Our campaign is designed to bring the unwilling to the negotiating table in order to agree how the national deal can be implemented.”

Visit the Time To Pay Up website for background information, action points and resources.

Don’t Make Workers Foot Bill For Snow Disruption

As workers struggle into work during recent snowstorms, the TUC has said people should not attempt to travel if it is not safe to do so.

Where possible, the TUC says employers should contact staff to advise them about getting into work. They should also take care that workers do not get trapped at work or put at risk if the weather gets worse. By the same token, workers should also let their employers know if they are not able to make it into work.

For those struggling with their commute, working from home is a useful alternative as long as it is technically feasible to do so, says the TUC.

Despite the heroic efforts of millions to get into work, the bad weather and lack of public transport have prevented many people from working. While there is no general legal right to be paid if you do not come into work, many companies have ‘bad weather’ policies so that employees who are kept away from work are still paid.

For those employers who don’t have ‘bad weather’ policies, the TUC advises that it would be bad practise not to pay staff or force them to take holiday as this would cause resentment among those have been kept away from work through no fault of their own.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: “Across the country, people have been braving the elements to get into work. Employers and workers must keep each other informed as to whether it’s safe, or even possible, to commute to and from work.

“But for many the bad weather and lack of public transport have made their commute impossible. Good employers will already have ‘bad weather’ policies so that those who are unable to work are still paid.

“Bosses that dock pay and take away holiday will add to their business woes by creating resentment among staff. Workers who have been prevented from working through no fault of their own should not have to foot the bill for the bad weather conditions. Instead we urge all employers to look after their staff during these adverse weather conditions.”