Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro Active participation of workers

Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro Active participation of workers in the finance and banking sector: an italian study Authors Name Dr. ssa Lucia Macciocu Dr. ssa Ilaria Rossi Dr. ssa Giuliana Buresti Dr. Pier. Paolo Ferrante Rome 5 November 2008

Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro “No action is without search and no search is without action” (Kurt Lewin)

The action-research is not only a means of knowledge, but aboveall: ways of involvement ways in relating opportunities reacting to know oneself and to know others to change Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro ACTION-RESEARCH

Analyzing the topic of change, Lewin conducted some experiments on the processes of decision making and change. The experiments were articulated in 3 phases: 1 -Phase 3 -Phase Carry out experiments to reveal the factors that facilitate change. To establish the ways to influence reciprocating psychological aspects 2 -Phase To research about psychological processes influence the change. the that Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro THE SOCIAL CHANGE

In groups Comparing Effects of the decisions taken More effective and durable Other methods/one to one Less effective Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro THE SOCIAL CHANGE

The collective action of consultation and cooperation by workers is aimed at actively contributing towards safeguarding health and safety in the workplace, providing a proactive contribution to aspects connected to daily work practice, throughout its organization and the optimization of relationships between workers and other elements of the enterprise system. Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro ACTIVE PARTICIPATION

ACTIVE PARTICIPATION Define issues Voice their concerns Provide suggestions for improving the organisational environment Maslach et al. 2000 Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro The active participation can only be achieved by allowing personnel to:

ACTIVE PARTICIPATION Worker’s active participation in the prevention of psychosocial hazards is a key priority for becoming a socially responsible enterprise. Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro Elements of theories

Concept whereby companies decide voluntarily to contribute to a better society and a cleaner environment. European Agency for Health and Safety at Work Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSABILITY - CSR

RESEARCH Active participation of workers in the finance and banking sector 1 -Phase 2 -Phase For the purposes of this study, a questionnaire was administered to determine the level of active partecipation in safety. The questionnaire used for the survey refers to various dimensions that were divided and classified into 8 areas. The sample consisted: 1 Of 2100 subjects from the credit sector distributed throughout Italy. The objectives: 1 Analysing the characteristics of the employees’ work in the italian bank sector. 2 To examine the level of participation in the Health and Safety at work, and focusing primarily on issues related to wellbeing. Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro The methodology were articulated in 2 phases:

RESEARCH Methodology Active participation of workers in the finance and banking sector Personal data and work history of individual workers; The active participation of the worker with particular reference to his o her perception of being able to actively contribute to the various phases of management interventions to apply Health and Safety regulations; Safety information and investigates specific risks from work activities and in the working environment as well as prevention and emergency measures; x Training system and analyses the predominant type of training implemented in the organisation; Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro Classified 8 areas

Methodology Active participation of workers in the finance and banking sector y Characteristics of the assigned work tasks and work pace and the impressions on the work; z Interpersonal relationships both within the company, relationships and outside relationships with customers; { Psychophysical well-being and investigates health conditions with particular reference to work situations experienced as critical, such as robbery and theft; | Job satisfaction, such as income, career development, professional autonomy, working hours, work incentives. Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro RESEARCH

AREA - ACTIVE PARTECIPATION Frequencies Analysis Active participation in safety Source: DML- ISPESL Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro Participation in prevention and safety intervention phases

AREA - ACTIVE PARTECIPATION Frequencies Analysis Participation in promoting safety and wellbeing in the organisation Source: DML- ISPESL Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro Safety training initiatives

AREA - INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP Frequencies Analysis Aggressive customers Source: DML- ISPESL Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro Positive feedback from customers

AREA - INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP Frequencies Analysis Relationship with superiors Source: DML- ISPESL Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro Relationship with colleagues

AREA – PSYCHOPHYSICAL WELL-BEING Frequencies Analysis Critical situation Source: DML- ISPESL Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro Perception of mental fatigue

AREA – JOB SATISFACTION Frequencies Analysis Aspects of work which involve fear and anxiety Source: DML- ISPESL Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro Job satisfaction

OUTCOMES DISCUSSION Ambiguity relationships with customers Formal relationships with superiors Lack carrer development Lack active partecipation of workers Good support relationship with colleagues Lack communication organizational Satisfactory pay & working hours Psychosocial discomfort Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro Frequencies Analysis

RESEARCH Methodology: Correspondence Analysis Main issues: data and questionnaires Main Objective: to reach a “subspace” that represents the initial characteristics, by maintaining the maximum information Explains the relationship between multiple variables Represents, geometrically, contingency table in order to identify the association between qualitative variables Compares at the same time, in a two dimensions plan, the variables mutual position. The relevance of each variable will be defined by his contribution to the total variance The more a point is far from the axis origin, the more the modality that it represents affects the identification of the axis itself Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro A Multivariate analysis approach that is best suited for qualitative

ILLUSTRATIVE VARIABLES – Axis 1/2 Profile: EMPLOYEES ON SP RE Profile: MANAGERS S S NE s BI SA ion uat LI TY ILL t l si a c i rit C Profile: FINANCIAL Profile: YOUTH AB NS PO Y IT IL Plan explains 79% of the whole variance S RE W Profile: BACK OFFICE NO -BE L EL ING

AXIS - Informed on work risks - Adequate training - Active Participation in safety training - Concerned about theft at work - Conflict with colleagues and management - Psychophysical Illness - Poor physical and mental health - Repetitive work and lack of motivation - Heavy and non stimulating work Unsatisfactory professional qualification and career development SEMIAXIS: AREA OF SATISFACTION AND WELLNESS SEMIAXIS: AREA NO RESPONSABILITY - Collaborative relationship with colleagues and management - Job satisfaction - Creative and stimulating work - Psychophysical health - Good level of health - Professional satisfaction - Uninformed on work risks - Lack of participation safety training - Lack of risk information - Not informed on prevention on work activity - Not attend work safety training Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro SEMIAXIS: AREA OF RESPONSABILITY SEMIAXIS: AREA OF UNSATISFACTION AND ILLNESS

In conclusion, the following are a series of possible multi-level interventions to improve the working conditions of the employees of the credit institutions interviewed: • 1) at the organisational level, in light of the results obtained, a holistic approach should be adopted with the aim of integrating OSH in the banks’ policy strategy, to improve personnel management policies and training. • 2) at the individual-organisational interface level, a research/intervention on participation should be implemented in order to deal with occupational health and safety aspects, especially in the prevention of psychosocial hazards. • 3) at the individual level, employees should be helped by developing their coping abilities, time management techniques, relaxation techniques and by providing them with counselling.