WBC stress story, Genuine concern or taking the mick? Options

[Strafin]

http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/2012/rise-in...rkshire-council

I have just read this story and a couple of things sprung to my mind. If you're stressed out about losing your job, is it wise to be taking time off? I accept stress can be difficult and cause genuine problems but we all suffer and some need a day off sometimes but that's what holiday time is for.

Do these employees get sick pay? It strikes me that it is one of those things that is difficult to disprove so if you get paid no matter what, an easy way to get some free time off. Does this set of figures only refer to the council itself or it's services as well, schools for example? Only we are all under pressure and it would be interesting to know if the stress was reflected across other council workers. If it is there may be something in this, but I wonder if it could also be a culture that has manifested through more people seeing easy time off as acceptable. And finally how are these absences covered and what is the cost?

[Simon Kirby]

Look at it from the company's point of view: You have staff going off sick because for some reason or other they'd sooner not be working. Does the management of a successful company A. throw its arms up in the air and despair at the endless stream of feckless loosers it keeps hiring, or B. look for ways to motivate its staff better.

[Bloggo]

Look at it from the company's point of view: You have staff going off sick because for some reason or other they'd sooner not be working. Does the management of a successful company A. throw its arms up in the air and despair at the endless stream of feckless loosers it keeps hiring, or B. look for ways to motivate its staff better.

Why should firms have a requirement to "motivate" their staff? Salary has always been my motivation.
When you take on a job you agree to a job specification and a wage for doing it. If you don't want to do it then don't take the job. Too many want the money but shy away from the responsibility.

[Simon Kirby]

Why should firms have a requirement to "motivate" their staff?

Simple: motivated staff make the company more profit.

[Bloggo]

Simple: motivated staff make the company more profit.

Of course and I understand that. My point is that there should be an element of self-motivation that doesn't require continual input and stroking from management to ensure that a job is done well.

[Andy Capp]

Of course and I understand that. My point is that there should be an element of self-motivation that doesn't require continual input and stroking from management to ensure that a job is done well.

There should, but it is ultimately the employer's loss if they ignore the effectiveness of good man management.

[Bloggo]

There should, but it is ultimately the employer's loss if they ignore the effectiveness of good man management.

Quite so. However we drift from the point and in my opinion some employees will use the term "stressed" to avoid making difficult decisions and turning up for work.

[NWNREADER]

Quite so. However we drift from the point and in my opinion some employees will use the term "stressed" to avoid making difficult decisions and turning up for work.

Just as some employees soldier on at work when they really should be at home. I have done both - sent people home and hauled them back to work....... Always when appropriate, and nearly always appreciated by the recipient.
I have no problem with the genuinely unfit to work being off for the time it takes for them to get back to fitness. I have a real problem with those who jump on the bandwagon. It used to be 'bad back'..... All the lead swingers make it hard for the genuine cases, whatever the ailment...

[Bloggo]

Just as some employees soldier on at work when they really should be at home. I have done both - sent people home and hauled them back to work....... Always when appropriate, and nearly always appreciated by the recipient.
I have no problem with the genuinely unfit to work being off for the time it takes for them to get back to fitness. I have a real problem with those who jump on the bandwagon. It used to be 'bad back'..... All the lead swingers make it hard for the genuine cases, whatever the ailment...

Well it sounds like you are taking control of your staff and actually managing them.
I have worked both in the private sector and laterly in the public sector and have worked at WBC for a period.
My experience was that I saw no reason for anyone to be stressed in the area of the council I was employed in. In fact there was a very casual atmosphere regarding work rate and very little manager participation. By contrast my experience in the private sector, where public money was not at risk, the work level was high and the stress level just tolerable.

[JeffG]

By contrast my experience in the private sector, where public money was not at risk, the work level was high and the stress level just tolerable.

Just to be clear (and definitely not being pedantic) do you mean "where the money at risk was not public money"? Maybe I am cynical, but I would have thought that in the public sector public money being at risk would not be a high priority, if the phrase has any meaning at all.

[Bloggo]

Just to be clear (and definitely not being pedantic) do you mean "where the money at risk was not public money"? Maybe I am cynical, but I would have thought that in the public sector public money being at risk would not be a high priority, if the phrase has any meaning at all.

Sorry, you are right, it is not clear.
In my opinion and experience the way that money is spent in the private sector is so much more accountable than the public sector. In particular purchasing and procurement seems to be less controlled when the expense is from the public purse.