Two Out Of Five Teachers Have Suffered Stress

More than two out of five teachers have suffered from stress-related illnesses, according to a new poll reported by the Workplace Law Network and carried out by Teachers TV – the digital channel for those working in education.

The findings will come as little surprise for those working in the sector. In 2007 ACM’s own survey of members into working time and related issues found that one in eight members had been diagnosed by a doctor as suffering from work related stress within the 12 month period before the survey was undertaken. In addition, four out of five reported their jobs as placing high demands in respect of workloads and targets (one of the HSE’s primary sources of stress).

AMiE Dismay As Opt-Out Stays

Commenting on the fact that Britain’s opt-out of the 48 hour working week is set to continue after talks between MEPs and Ministers broke down, AMiE’s Director of Employment Services, David Green said,

“I find it very disappointing that a Labour government should describe this outcome as ‘protection’ for the opt-out. Surely there is no reason for pride when you are in effect giving employers the green light to continue the long hours culture.

“The 48 hour limit is a safety measure designed to protect workers from the recognised ill health effects of working excessive hours. Yet allowing individuals to opt-out is not only bad for health, it creates a serious barrier to reducing working time and improving worklife balance in our sector. Keeping the opt-out means there is no incentive for employers to look seriously at how work is organised and managed.”

In a survey of members carried out last year ACM found that two out of three members worked in excess of an average of 48 hours per week, and almost 17% worked over 60 a week. The survey also found that four out of five members said they faced excessive demands in terms of workload and targets, a key factor in the cause of work related stress.

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.

UK Sick Rates Well Below European Average

UK sickness absence rates are the second lowest in Europe according to new research, belying fears that absenteeism is prevalent in the UK.

A survey by HR consultancy Mercer found that UK employees took an average of 5.5 days off work a year – significantly below the European average of 7.4. You can read more on the CIPD website.

More Hostility Towards Disabled and Long Term Sick

Disabled people and those with long term ill-health are facing higher levels of hostile and negative treatment in the workplace according to new research published by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

In a survey of nearly 4000 workers, the British Workplace Behaviour Survey 2008, conducted by Cardiff University and the University of Glamorgan, found employees with a disability or long-term illness reported they were more likely to have negative experiences at work. These experiences range from low expectations of workers, bullying and humiliation to, in some cases, physical violence. Findings included:

• 25% of people with a disability or long-term illness said someone was continually checking up on them and their work when it was not necessary compared to 19.4% of people without a disability or long-term illness.
• 22.5% of people with a disability or long-term illness said they had been the subject to persistent unfair  criticism of their work and performance compared to 13.4% of people without a disability or long-term illness.
• 13.4% of people with a disability or long-term illness said they had been humiliated or ridiculed in connection with their work compared to 8.7% for people without a disability or long-term

Ahead of the upcoming Equality Bill, the Commission will ask whether existing equality laws provide clear enough protection to disabled individuals at risk of bullying and harassment at work, for example, in relation to ill-treatment by clients or customers.

As the Government moves to introduce welfare reforms designed to enable more disabled people to enter work, the Commission hopes the issues raised in today’s report will be addressed.

Nicola Brewer, Chief Executive of the Equality and Human Rights Commission said: “In these difficult economic times we must do all we can to help as many people as possible to stay in work. If disabled people and those with long-term ill health are more likely to experience hostile and negative treatment at work, we risk losing both their talent and their economic contribution.

“Disabled people and those with long term ill-health should be supported to get into, or back into, work, but they’ll only stay in work if they are treated with dignity and respect.”

A copy of the research report can be downloaded from the EHRC website.

HSE Launch Major Safety Strategy Consultation

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched a consultation on its new strategy: The Health and Safety of Great Britain, Be Part of the Solution.  The strategy, which is resetting the direction for health and safety, sets out a number of goals to be achieved:

These include

• HSE and Local Authorities continuing to work together to investigate work related incidents and secure justice
• Encouraging strong leadership and championing a common sense approach to health and safety
• Building competence of those charged with delivering health and safety in workplaces
• Promoting the benefits of worker involvement

The HSE is holding a series of regional workshops across GB in January 2009. Key stakeholders will be invited to give HSE their views on the strategy and pledge their support on its delivery. The workshops will begin in Liverpool on 8 January 2009, followed by Newcastle (13 January), Bristol (15 January), Birmingham (20 January), Cardiff (22 January), London (27 January) and Glasgow (29 January). Attendance is by invitation only but to register interest, visit the special HSE web page or telephone 01772 767717.

Those wishing to take part in the online/written consultation can do so by visiting www.hse.gov.uk/strategy where they will find the HSE strategy and its supporting documents.

Can Managers Affect Risk Of Heart Attack?

Members may be interested in this report from the Workplace Law Network concerning research linking the risk of heart attack to the competency of the line manager.

HSE Stress Workshop For Union Reps

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is running a free workshop for union representatives to help them better understand their role in managing the causes of work-related stress and protecting employee well-being. The event will be at the Victoria Plaza hotel, London, 25 November 2008.

Experienced HSE psychologists will host this free event, but places are limited. To apply for a place please see the HSE’s online booking form.

Stress and Overwork Top List of Concerns

Stress or overwork, injuries and illnesses caused by the poor use of display screen equipment and repetitive strain injuries (RSI) top the list of workers’ safety concerns, according to the TUC’s biennial survey of safety reps published today (Monday).

Three in five (60 per cent) safety reps reported stress or overwork as a concern in their workplace. Concerns about stress are most common in the public sector and in large workplaces, with the highest instances in central government (81 per cent), education (74 per cent) and health services (69 per cent).

Stress was cited as the biggest concern in ten of the 14 sectors covered by the survey. Manufacturing (noise), construction, distribution and hotels (back strains) and voluntary organisations (display screen equipment) reported other top hazards at work.

Injuries and illnesses resulting from the poor use of display screen equipment has risen from fourth in 2006 to become the second-most common concern, reported by two in five (41 per cent) safety reps. Repetitive strain injuries (40 per cent) are another commonly reported hazard.

Other concerns on the increase since the 2006 survey include slips, trips and falls (up six per cent), working alone (up three per cent) and violence and threats at work (up four per cent).

Workers in London are most concerned about stress (68 per cent), while workers in Yorkshire and East Anglia are most worried about working alone (38 per cent). Workers in the South East (33 per cent) and London (32 per cent) are significantly more concerned about violence and threats at work than the rest of the UK (26 per cent).

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: “Stress casts a gloomy shadow over far too many UK workplaces. And as the current economic crisis creates more anxiety about job security, stress is likely to increase.

“Unions and employers must work together to combat this as it can have a huge personal cost to workers and a damaging cost to businesses.

HSE To Launch New Asbestos Campaign

A new national campaign about asbestos is being launched by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) next week. “Asbestos: the hidden killer” goes online on Monday 13th October with a new website. Visit the preview page now to listen to radio adverts that will feature in the campaign.

Asbestos: hidden killer campaign