Stress Management Standards or a Quality of Working

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Stress Management Standards or a Quality of Working Life Act ? Simon Pickvance Institute

Stress Management Standards or a Quality of Working Life Act ? Simon Pickvance Institute for Employment Rights

Outline • What is the current state of the psychosocial work environment ? •

Outline • What is the current state of the psychosocial work environment ? • Will the Stress Management Standards work ? • What is stress anyway • Existing law relating to stress • Proposals for law • A QWLA

HSE Psychosocial WE survey • Very little change over 4 years (2004 -7) •

HSE Psychosocial WE survey • Very little change over 4 years (2004 -7) • 14% extremely stressed • No changes expected as a result of policy yet (18 mo delay) • ? Changes in management and peer support • Asks about anger and fear

European trends • Rapid trends: computers • Slow deterioration: intensity, autonomy, learning new things,

European trends • Rapid trends: computers • Slow deterioration: intensity, autonomy, learning new things, satisfaction • Some areas of improvement: WLB, discrimination, hours, health and safety • Differing country strategies demonstrate there is no inevitability about direction of change

Stress Management Standards • • • Demands, Control, Support Relationships Role, Change Audit based

Stress Management Standards • • • Demands, Control, Support Relationships Role, Change Audit based Standard questionnaires National surveys Priority areas chosen: • • Health, Education, Finance, Public admin

What is stress ? • • • Does it (still) exist ? Bad stress/good

What is stress ? • • • Does it (still) exist ? Bad stress/good stress Silent stress Social, psychological, physical Knowing, thinking, feeling Why now ? – An attempt to communicate ?

What people say about stress at work • • Fear Anger Frustration Care and

What people say about stress at work • • Fear Anger Frustration Care and social bond – Tend and – befriend • Lack of ‘play’ • Meaning • Status

• Fairness • Security • Influence and control • Care • Freedom of

• Fairness • Security • Influence and control • Care • Freedom of association • Negotiated rewards, legal minimum procedures • Vulnerable workers • Contracts, training • Freedom from harassment • Consultation/Codetermination rules • FWA, Rehabilitation • Time-off • Prevention services • Representation rights • Mediation

A QWLA ? Has to tackle • Fairness – procedural, distributive • Security –

A QWLA ? Has to tackle • Fairness – procedural, distributive • Security – job security, physical security • Influence and control • Care: support, recognition of needs • Freedom of association at work

Existing legislation • • Working time Provision of Work Equipment Pregnancy and Work Management

Existing legislation • • Working time Provision of Work Equipment Pregnancy and Work Management of Health and Safety at Work DSE Regs Dispute resolution Equal treatment/Discrimination legislation Harassment Act (proposals: Temporary Workers, etc. , Employment law: Role of ACAS)

Previous proposals for law • • • Dignity at Work Bill Right to Learn

Previous proposals for law • • • Dignity at Work Bill Right to Learn Right to Flexible Working Arrangements Duty of care Extending ICE Equal rights for all (migrant, agency, home –workers) • Trade Union Freedom Bill

A Quality of Working Life Act • Duty of Care – Employers’ duties –

A Quality of Working Life Act • Duty of Care – Employers’ duties – Attention to employees’ work-life balance, health, rehabilitation • • • Freedom from harassment and insecurity (fear) Control - codetermination Fairness Rights to associate, be represented, mediate Inspection

Weighing up our options • What are the benefits of using health arguments? •

Weighing up our options • What are the benefits of using health arguments? • Should we merge QWL with Trade Union Freedom demands ? • Is it better to aim for small changes in several sets of regulations ? • What help might we get from EU legislation ?