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> WBC stress story, Genuine concern or taking the mick?
Strafin
post Jun 14 2012, 04:56 PM
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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?
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Timbo
post Jun 14 2012, 05:08 PM
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Must be all the lying and having to deal with complaints.
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Exhausted
post Jun 14 2012, 05:29 PM
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Strees, a fairly modern malaise which costs the country and by default the taxpayers millions to keep them warm and tucked up nicely. The old saying "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitcken"might apply.
There may be something in oppresive management structures which push people to and over the edge. If you spend your entire working life having to make sure that an innocent remark doesn't bring an accusation of a racist comment or an accusation of sexist conduct then perhaps the structure should be examined. I have to suggest that the whole problem is made worse by the human resources department who should be protecting employees rather than looking for every minor mistake that staff might make. These jobsworths have created the environment where people are terribly hurt and baying for action, compensation or the blood of their co workers everytime they feel they have been marginalised.
Just look at the television adverts where the solicitors are advertising for people who fall over, or fall off a ladder to get in touch to sue the butt off their employer when half the time, the accident is a result of their own stupidity. Remember the last snowfall when we were advised we could be sued if we cleared the footpath and some idiot slipped up on the cleared area despite the fact that it is a well known fact that snow is inherrently slippery.
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Strafin
post Jun 14 2012, 05:41 PM
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I think it's more modern urban myths that make people think this way, and to be honest if you are stressed out about snowy paths for example, then you are probably in the wrong job. I agree with your sentiment of "If you can't stand the heat"...
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Andy Capp
post Jun 14 2012, 06:30 PM
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With the cost of rent and mortgages these days, it is no-wonder people from all ranges of employment are stressed. And beware, the Tories are eager to make it easier to fire you, so stay awake.
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badger
post Jun 15 2012, 07:37 PM
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Stress can also come from when you are consistently (over several years) told/expected to achieve certain results in a service area whilst at the same time funding is withdrawn. It can also come from seeing services withdrawn from the most vulnerable in society after so called consultations. I doubt people wake up and think 'oh I'll take today off as a stress day' it creeps up on you, gradually, slowly, until suddenly you find yourself having a panic attack or unable to make a decision as simple as to what to put in your sandwich. Then before you can make any big decisions such as if this is the right job for you anymore or the right organisation for you - you are feeling very very ill.

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Strafin
post Jun 15 2012, 08:00 PM
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That is true, but would that really be happening to that many people at WBC? I am not convinced..
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NWNREADER
post Jun 15 2012, 08:06 PM
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QUOTE (Strafin @ Jun 14 2012, 05:56 PM) *
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?


Overall, too simplistic (cynical, maybe?) by half. NHS advice
Non-visible problems are often dismissed as lead swinging under various terms of phrase. Truly ill people, or those on the verge, have their situation made worse by worrying about being branded a skiver.
I am sure, as an ex-Councillor, you did everything to ensure your staff were not so stereotyped.
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On the edge
post Jun 15 2012, 08:52 PM
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Sorry, but this is simply a sales pitch for a Trades Union. The public sector being the last bastion of these outdated and wholly unnecessary institutions. Of course people are worried about jobs and employment - we are in the middle of a severe and eep recession. Can't remember any great sympathy when other local employers went actually went under and the staff did actually loose their jobs. Frankly, if I was working at the Council Offices, in any capacity, I'd be pretty angry that some one perporting to represent my interests, was going round saying I can't cope! With friends like that you don't need tough managers!


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NWNREADER
post Jun 15 2012, 09:03 PM
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I don't disagree with that. The Union presents a very narrow view of the issue
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Simon Kirby
post Jun 15 2012, 09:47 PM
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Nationally time lost because of mental ill-health of one kind or another accounts for around 40% of all lost time, so the question isn't why is WBC's proportion so high, but why is it so low? Mental ill-health can be debilitating, and life-threatening, and its stigmatisation makes it all the more difficult for people to seek help and recognise that they are ill. Stress can be a trigger and it's good that Unison have brought this up, good for the health of the employees, and good for the productivity of the employer.


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badger
post Jun 15 2012, 10:05 PM
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QUOTE (Simon Kirby @ Jun 15 2012, 10:47 PM) *
Nationally time lost because of mental ill-health of one kind or another accounts for around 40% of all lost time, so the question isn't why is WBC's proportion so high, but why is it so low? Mental ill-health can be debilitating, and life-threatening, and its stigmatisation makes it all the more difficult for people to seek help and recognise that they are ill. Stress can be a trigger and it's good that Unison have brought this up, good for the health of the employees, and good for the productivity of the employer.




well said Simon.
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Penelope
post Jun 15 2012, 10:06 PM
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QUOTE (badger @ Jun 15 2012, 11:05 PM) *
well said Simon.


Times 2.
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user23
post Jun 16 2012, 01:05 PM
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These figures show that the national average in 2011/12 was 34% but is a lot lower than 10 years ago.
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Simon Kirby
post Jun 16 2012, 02:25 PM
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QUOTE (user23 @ Jun 16 2012, 02:05 PM) *

Thanks for that User. 34% of all sick incidences is stress-related, but the average time lost to each stress-related incidence is almost 30 days, very much longer than the 5-10 days lost to the more typical colds and flu, so mental ill health accounts for a disproportionately large fraction of all days lost, maybe more than 40%.


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Exhausted
post Jun 16 2012, 02:29 PM
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QUOTE (user23 @ Jun 16 2012, 02:05 PM) *


Interesting that the industries that reported the highest rates of work-related stress in the last three years were health, social work, education and public administration.

I'm not sure what that suggests and why that particular group should have a high sickness rate due to stress. Are they employing the wrong people, is the work culture such that the employees strees themselves into stress related illness or is it that the unions need to keep stress to the forefront as a factor so that pressure of work can be a the path to higher pay claims.

Whatever the reasons, I'm not sure that being a teacher or working at the council offices can really be that stressful and I would take a bet that the health workers who report stress related illness are not the patient care section, the nurses and doctors, but are the employees in the administration department.
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Cognosco
post Jun 16 2012, 03:42 PM
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QUOTE (Exhausted @ Jun 16 2012, 03:29 PM) *
Interesting that the industries that reported the highest rates of work-related stress in the last three years were health, social work, education and public administration.

I'm not sure what that suggests and why that particular group should have a high sickness rate due to stress. Are they employing the wrong people, is the work culture such that the employees strees themselves into stress related illness or is it that the unions need to keep stress to the forefront as a factor so that pressure of work can be a the path to higher pay claims.

Whatever the reasons, I'm not sure that being a teacher or working at the council offices can really be that stressful and I would take a bet that the health workers who report stress related illness are not the patient care section, the nurses and doctors, but are the employees in the administration department.


I would put all this stress down to all these vexatious taxpayers wanting to know too much information in regards to trying to find out just what the council are doing? rolleyes.gif


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On the edge
post Jun 16 2012, 03:52 PM
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If, and it may well be, this is a national problem - then why aren't we seeing it debated via the pulic health channels and indeed in the national arena. The Trades Union involvement in just one narrow area seems to me unnecessary and inappropriate, All its done is serve to suggest local government employees are even more overblown than a big percentage of the population already believe. in the context of the stuggle over pensions and local government 'waste' - not at all helpful. And to think, many trades union officials are still on the public payroll!!


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NWNREADER
post Jun 16 2012, 04:12 PM
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One constant stressor for those working in public service is knowing what is 'right', what is a priority, what the community needs, but being required to do other things because of political pressures, Stress is not so much caused by having lots to do; much more likely the inability to do the real job because of irrelevant impositions from central Govt/local point scoring....

IMHO, of course....
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user23
post Jun 16 2012, 04:22 PM
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QUOTE (NWNREADER @ Jun 16 2012, 05:12 PM) *
One constant stressor for those working in public service is knowing what is 'right', what is a priority, what the community needs, but being required to do other things because of political pressures, Stress is not so much caused by having lots to do; much more likely the inability to do the real job because of irrelevant impositions from central Govt/local point scoring....

IMHO, of course....
I would guess comments like the one below must add to the stress too.

I'm sure your average hard working teacher or social worker would not like being called a liar.
QUOTE (Timbo @ Jun 14 2012, 06:08 PM) *
Must be all the lying and having to deal with complaints.
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