GET A LIFE! NEWS 2004
ARCHIVE
Britain:
Putting the dead in deadlines
Setting tight work deadlines can raise
the risk of a heart attack six-fold, researchers have found. The Karolinska
Institute team found high demands, competition and conflict in the workplace
were linked to heart attack risk.
Risks 187, 18 December 2004
Britain:
Record sickness among demoralised civil servants
Stress and anxiety is causing record numbers of civil servants at the
Department for Work and Pensions to go sick, a National Audit Office report
has found. The highest rates of sickness were among staff who had the
lowest paid, most stressful or repetitive jobs, often working in call
centres, on benefit office counters or recording data; the lowest rates
were among the top executives.
Risks 186, 11 December 2004
Britain:
Tube workers ballot for action to head off dangerous hours
The biggest union on London Underground (LUL) is to ballot more than 330
signallers and line controllers for strike action. The move comes after
six months of negotiations failed to resolve a four year dispute over
a pay deal the company wants to link to job cuts, longer shifts and fewer
breaks.
Risks 186, 11 December 2004
Britain:
February 25 is 'work your proper hours' day in 2005
Here's one for your diary. Friday, February 25 is the day in 2005 when
the TUC estimates that people who do unpaid overtime will stop working
for free and start to get paid.
Risks 186, 11 December 2004
Global:
Work stress can leave you demented
New research shows that workers with better jobs with a lot of control
run a lower risk of developing dementia. The Occupational and Environmental
Medicine paper comes on the heels of a US study that found mind-numbing
jobs were linked to a higher rate of Alzheimer's.
Risks 184, 27 November 2004
China:
Overwork kills another factory worker
A female worker has died of suspected overwork in a garment factory. The
death is the latest in a series that have been linked to overwork.
Risks 183, 20 November 2004
Britain:
You are not mad - it was the job that did it
The largest ever review of the link between work stress and strain injuries
has shown that physical and mental stress is hurting us, and employers
aren't do enough to let workers take proper control over their jobs.
Risks 183, 20 November 2004
Canada:
Burned out workers costing billions
The downsizing that swept Canada's workplaces during the 1980s and 1990s
backfired, with so much work piled on surviving employees that they and
the health care system are suffering.
Risks 182, 13 November 2004
Britain:
Cool welcome for stress management standards
Unions have given a qualified welcome to new Health and Safety Executive
(HSE) stress management standards, warning that the safety watchdog must
be ready to take enforcement action if firms fail to act.
Risks 181, 6 November 2004
Britain:
TGWU "furious" over haulage work hours move
Drivers and transport workers have been badly let down by the government
and the transport industry and could miss out on the full protection supposed
to come from the Working Time Directive, according to transport union
TGWU.
Risks 181, 6 November 2004
Britain:
Workers "are more stressed than ever"
Three in every five workers (58 per cent) now complain of being stressed
at work, an increase of two per cent from 2002, according to latest TUC
figures. TUC found the main causes of stress identified by safety reps
are increased workloads, change at work, staff cuts, long hours and bullying.
Risks 181, 6 November 2004
Europe:
Unions and employers agree workplace stress framework
Organisations representing unions and employers across Europe have signed
a framework agreement aimed at tackling workplace stress.
Risks 178,
16 October 2004
USA:
Dangers in the night
Workplace accidents that result in injuries are much more likely to occur
at night than in daytime hours, studies suggest. Kenneth N Fortson, writing
in the Monthly Labor Review, says data from Texas workers' compensation
claims shows the injury rate is higher late at night than during the regular
9-5 shift.
Risks 178,
16 October 2004
Denmark:
Better work can reduce heart attacks
Improving the quality of a person's job can reduce their risk of a heart
attack, new research has shown. Medical and workplace health researchers
from Denmark found the benefits would be most pronounced in unskilled
workers and added: "Improvements in psychosocial work environment,
especially possibility for skill development, could contribute to a reduction
in the incidence of MI and in social inequality in MI."
Risks 178,
16 October 2004
Britain:
TGWU puts bus operators on hours warning
Bus drivers' union TGWU has urged members to step up the campaign to reduce
driving hours. In a co-ordinated action, the union's sixty bus branches
have put forward demands for a maximum continuous driving shift of four
and a half hours and a maximum driving time of eight and a half hours
in any one day.
Risks 178,
16 October 2004
Britain:
Ho ho holidays all round for shopworkers
Friday 15 October has been hailed as an historic milestone in shopworkers'
union Usdaw's long running campaign to ensure large stores cannot open
on 25 December. The Christmas Day (Trading) Bill, sponsored by Labour
MP Kevan Jones, has passed its final Commons stage in time for this year's
festive period.
Risks 178,
16 October 2004
Britain: Government
"muddled and naïve" on working time
The government is denying "substantial evidence" of the health
effects of long hours and is giving a "muddled and naïve"
message on working time, says top thinktank The Work Foundation.
Risks
177, 9 October 2004
Britain
Too little sleep is not working
A new report says British adults now get an average of 90 minutes less
than they used to. Lack of sleep is leading to problems ranging from irritable
behaviour and inefficiency at work, to ill-health, road accidents and
even divorce, it says.
Risks
176, 2 October 2004
Britain
Working time fudge could leave workers stuffed
Amicus has said it is "dismayed at the confusing mess of proposals
that the Commission has made in respect of modifications to the Working
Time Directive." It says the proposal to increase the reference period
for the calculation of maximum hours from 17 weeks to a year could leave
some workers stuffed.
Risks
176, 2 October 2004
Japan
Easier worker-related suicide payouts planned
The Japanese authorities are to ease the workers' compensation qualification
for work-related suicide, where employees kill themselves because of depression
related to work. The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry says there has
been a sharp increase in "karojisatsu", work-related suicide.
Risks 175,
25 September 2004
Britain
Green alert on long hours
Flexible working is being used by UK employers to force employees to give
up their rights and work the longest hours in Europe - widening the poverty
gap and forcing thousands to suffer long-term ill-health, warns Flexible
working: A work-life balance or a balancing, a Green Party report.
Risks 175,
25 September 2004
Britain
Changes to working time rules satisfy no-one
European Commission plans for the revision of the EU Working Time Directive
would leave workers at risk of dangerously long working hours, the TUC
has warned. Proposals published this week include the continuation of
the opt-out for UK workers from the 48 hour working week ceiling.
Risks 175,
25 September 2004
Global
Long-term work stress is top heart attack
risk
Stress is a cause of heart attacks, a major international study has confirmed.
A report in The Lancet on 4 September found persistent severe stress makes
it two and a half times more likely that an individual will have a heart
attack compared with someone who is not stressed, with prolonged workplace
stress the most dangerous risk factor.
Risks 173,
11 September 2004
Britain
Overwork crisis must be tackled
Family life is being damaged by long hours working, so the individual
opt-out allowing parents to work over 48 hours a week must be abolished,
says a report from the TUC and charity Working Families.
Risks 172,
4 September 2004
Canada
Stress is driving workers to tears
Burnout is literally driving public school and health care workers to
tears, according to a union commissioned study. The Centrale des syndicats
du Quebec backed study found about 40 per cent of respondents, most of
whom were teachers, said they've cried on the job, mostly because they
have too much work, or are too stressed out.
Risks 171,
28 August 2004
Britain
The time is right for a new bank holiday
The autumn half-term, the national saint's days of England, Scotland and
Wales, and New Year's Eve are the most popular choices for the three new
bank holidays sought by TUC, according to the results of an online vote
on the TUC's world of work website.
Risks 171,
28 August 2004
Britain
Working all hours leads to all round problems
Many shop managers and supervisors, under pressure to meet targets and
boost profit margins, regularly work excessive hours that put their health,
safety and family lives at risk, says shopworkers' union Usdaw.
Risks 171,
28 August 2004
USA
Too much work, too little research
Americans work the longest hours in the developed world and are dropping
like flies as a result.
Risks
170, 21 August 2004
Britain
Bullied workers suffer "battle stress"
A leading psychologist believes bullied workers go through the same emotions
and stresses as battle-scarred troops.
Risks
170, 21 August 2004
Britain
Speak up now for stress controls
Your chance to have a say on Health and Safety Commission (HSC) proposals
on work-related stress action has almost passed - so TUC is urging safety
reps and unions to get their comments in soon.
Risks
170, 21 August 2004
Britain
Ambulance union victory on meal breaks
Unions representing ambulance staff in the north-east of England are claiming
victory in a row over paid meal breaks.
Risks
170, 21 August 2004
USA
Mind-numbing jobs may up Alzheimer's risk
People who spent most of their lives in jobs that involve little brain
work appear more likely to eventually develop Alzheimer's disease, according
to new study.
Risks
169, 14 August 2004
Britain
"Frantic life syndrome" hits women
workers
Working women in the UK think new technology makes their lives even more
hectic, according to a new report. As a result, a growing number of career
women are suffering from what has been dubbed "frantic life syndrome."
Risks
169, 14 August 2004
Britain
Unions hail workers' rights boost
Unions say they have won a "significant shift" in Labour policy
on workers' rights and holidays.
Risks
167, 31 July 2004
Britain
Hours breakthrough for tug workers
Tug workers will have safer hours with more humane rest periods under
an agreement struck by transport union TGWU.
Risks
166, 24 July 2004
Britain
Quickie lunches are dangerous, says TUC
Workers' health and productivity is being jeopardised as lunch breaks
get squeezed so they are now the shortest ever.
Risks
166, 24 July 2004
Europe
EC must speed up working time reforms
Europe's trade unions are urging the European Commission to act now to
ensure workers get the protection they are supposed to receive from the
1993 Working Time Directive. Top European trade union body ETUC says it
is disappointed the EC has failed to ensure workers get their working
time safety rights and says it "regrets" the intransigence of
Europe's employers.
Risks
165, 17 July 2004
Britain
Deadly work stress effects revealed
Stress and insecurity at work can make you sick or even kill you - and
is more the lower you are down the pecking order, the more likely it is
to get you.
Risks
164, 11 July 2004
Britain
Amicus bullying pilot takes off
Amicus is to call on employers at Heathrow and Gatwick to combat the growing
problem of bullying and harassment within the airline industry.
Risks
164, 11 July 2004
Britain
Masterclasses aim to stop long hours
The TUC has welcomed a series of government "masterclasses"
advising firms how to address Britain's long hours culture.
Risks
164, 11 July 2004
Britain
Stress-related sickness up
A majority of employers have noticed an increase in stress-related absence
during the past twelve months, according to new research. Unions say this
shows employees are feeling obliged to push themselves too hard.
Risks
164, 11 July 2004
Britain
Honda sued by "stressed" employee
Car giant Honda is being sued for loss of earnings by an ex-employee who
says she was sick for a year as a result of stress at work.
Risks
163, 3 July 2004
Britain
Get serious on hours, TUC tells ministers
As the government launches a working hours consultation, the TUC has said
it should end its "indefensible" support for the long hours
culture that is hurting workers and the economy.
Risks
163, 3 July 2004
Australia
Surge in claims for workplace stress
Stressed-out workers in Australia are flooding insurers with claims as
a result of low job control, high job demands and poor support from their
bosses. Insurers say mental stress accounts for 6 per cent of all injury
claims, and the costs per case are considerably higher because victims
take more time off work than for other injuries and incur higher medical
and legal bills.
Risks
162, 26 June 2004
Britain
TGWU negotiates working time cuts with no loss
of pay
Union members at one of the UK's largest haulage companies have backed
a deal negotiated by transport union TGWU to reduce working hours in line
with the working time directive but with no loss of pay.
Risks
162, 26 June 2004
Britain
Directors have best jobs and lowest stress
Bosses have the least work stress, most job satisfaction and the best
health, according to a new study. Senior business directors came bottom
of the stress table in all three areas measured by the study - physical
health, psychological well-being and job satisfaction.
Risks
160, 12 June 2004
Britain
Pilots working hours campaign takes off
The British public support overwhelmingly airline pilots who say flying
hours should be determined not by politicians but by experts or by pilots.
Risks
160, 12 June 2004
Europe
Challenge to finance employers over stress
A union group is to challenge European finance employers to take joint
action against growing levels of stress at work. A European - or even
global - day of action is under consideration to highlight the stress
levels faced by finance staff internationally, says union umbrella group
UNI-Europa.
Risks
159, 5 June 2004
Britain
Usdaw starts planning for xmas hols
Shopworkers who fear they will be forced to work on Christmas Day are
urging their MPs to show support for the next stage in a campaign to ban
big shops opening on this special day.
Risks
158, 29 May 2004
Britain
Stress consultation could bypass safety reps
A three month consultation campaign on proposals to reduce work-related
stress has been launched by the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) - but
may end up bypassing thousands of safety reps, warns the TUC.
Risks
158, 29 May 2004
Britain
TUC launches search for new bank holiday
The TUC has launched a national search for a new bank holiday
as it reveals figures showing that people in Britain get fewer public
holidays than any other country in the European Union, even when you include
all the new EU member states.
Risks 158,
29 May 2004
Britain
Latest round to the unions in working time fight
Unions have won a major victory in the ongoing fight for an end to the
UK opt-out clause from Europe's 48 hour working week ceiling. The European
Commission this week warned it was considering proposals to abolish Britain's
opt-out.
Risks
157, 22 May 2004
Britain
Long hours undeniably unhealthy for drivers
Retail union Usdaw is warning transport companies not to "bury their
heads in the sand" as the introduction of new regulations on maximum
working hours draw closer.
Risks
156, 15 May 2004
Britain
Late arriving driver hours law welcomed
The TUC and the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) have welcomed
the long awaited government announcement of how the Road Transport (Working
Time) Directive will be put into practice in the UK.
Risks
154, 1 May 2004
Britain
Company growth can make workers wilt
Working for a company that expands rapidly increases an employee's risk
of long-term sickness and hospital admissions, says a report in the Lancet.
Risks
152, 17 April 2004
Britain
Work stress a "material contribution"
to stroke
An undercover detective who had to carry out a dangerous bugging operation
nine times because of faulty equipment has won the right to substantial
damages because of the stress-related ill-health it triggered.
Risks
152, 17 April 2004
USA
Long hours increase injury risks
Limited employee involvement in schedule selection, long work days, and
an excess of consecutive work days are all linked to increased risk of
ergonomics-related injuries, according to a new report.
Risks
152, 17 April 2004
Japan
Karoshi deaths system speeded up
Work related sudden deaths in Japan have reached a record high, prompting
authorities to speed up the official system to recognise cases eligible
for compensation.
Risks
151, 10 April 2004
Global
Workers suffer Irritable Desk Syndrome
Cluttered desks, poor posture and hours spent in front of a computer are
damaging the health of office staff, with increasing numbers of workers
now suffering from "Irritable Desk Syndrome."
Risks
150, 3 April 2004
Britain
Most firms fail to manage stress
Up to five million Britons complain of work-related stress each year,
but a new survey shows that most organisations are not following the Health
and Safety Executive's soon to be enforced rules to manage and reduce
it.
Risks
150, 3 April 2004
Britain
Lords back stressed workers
Law Lords have ruled that employers must take the initiative to protect
employees they know are vulnerable to stress-related illness. They awarded
a teacher and NUT member Leon Alan Barber £72,547 in damages against
his employer, Somerset County Council.
Risks
150, 3 April 2004
Britain
Time to end long hours working
The TUC has called on the European Commission to end the individual opt-out
from the Working Time Directive. It says long hours working is bad for
the health of long hours workers and ending the opt-out is the only way
to stop it.
Risks
150, 3 April 2004
Britain
CBI panic move on working hours out-out
Employers' organisation CBI is pressing ministers to tighten up the UK's
working hours rules. The move by CBI - normally the first to cry foul
at any attempt at regulation - comes in a bid to head off the TUC's high
profile campaign to end the UK opt-out from the 48-hour working week ceiling.
Risks
149, 27 March 2004
Britain
Fury as Royal Mail axes thousands, hammers the
rest
Top bosses in Royal Mail want managers to work extra hours, many of them
without any extra pay, to offset the staffing shortages that will follow
3,000 "voluntary" redundancies. Amicus, the union representing
white collar staff in the firm, reacted angrily to the plan.
Risks
149, 27 March 2004
Britain
Overwork behind another teacher suicide
A teacher who set herself alight had complained about pressure of work,
an inquest has been told. Janet Dibb, 28, had been complaining to her
father about overwork.
Risks
148, 20 March 2004 • Hazards
guide to the deadly dangers of overwork, including work-related
suicide
Britain
Stress yes - compo no, says advisory body
The body that advises ministers on the occupational diseases that should
qualify for government industrial injuries payouts has said stress should
not be added to the list of "prescribed" industrial diseases,
but post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) should be in very limited circumstances.
Risks
148, 20 March 2004
Greece
Unions act on work burn-out dangers
Unions in Greece are calling for action to prevent burn-out at work. Recommendations
from the Greek General Confederation of Labour (GSEE) include information
provision, work reorganisation and recognition of burn-out as an occupational
illness, as well as proper implementation of health and safety regulations.
Risks
147, 13 March 2004
Britain
UK in the dock over work breaks law
The European Commission is taking the UK government to the European Court
of Justice for allegedly failing to enforce a directive that entitles
employees to breaks at work. It accuses the government of neglecting its
working time rules, which unions say has cost staff millions of hours
of leisure time.
Risks
147, 13 March 2004
Canada
Corporate "obligation" to tackle stress
Workplace stress and depression are exacting a heavy toll, particularly
among conscientious employees "in their prime working years,"
say a group of Canadian business leaders.
Risks
145, 28 February 2004
Finland
Lack of worktime control makes you sick
Control over your working hours is not just necessary so you run your
life, it is essential to your health. A study in the journal Occupational
and Environmental Medicine found a low level of worktime control increases
the risk of future health problems.
Risks
145, 28 February 2004
Britain
Overworked? Tell someone about it!
TUC has provided snazzy free eCards for the overworked to send an electronic
greeting to friends or colleagues, a print-off-and-stick-up A4 sized poster
and a chart of the best long-hours related tunes to whistle while you
worked.
Risks
145, 28 February 2004
Australia
Judge blames transport bosses, jails truckie
A truck driver pressured into driving 14-hour
shifts has been jailed following a fatal road traffic accident. Sentencing
truck driver Joseph Terry Caldwell, 24, to at least three years and 10
months jail time, County court judge Joe Gullaci called for authorities
to ban "ruthless" employers who imposed unreasonable deadlines
on their drivers.
Risks
144, 21 February 2004
Britain
Which day this year will you start getting paid?
The TUC says "Work your proper hours day" on Friday 27 February
2004, the 42nd working day of the year, is the day in 2004 when on average
those who do unpaid overtime stop working for free and start to get paid.
Risks
144, 21 February 2004
Britain
Working parents want family friendly hours
Threequarters of working parents put family friendly working hours ahead
of other benefits. A survey by new campaigning charity Working Families
found 44 per cent wanted flexible working hours and 30 per cent wanted
a shorter working day.
Risks
143, 14 February 2004
Britain
European Parliament challenges UK on long hours
The TUC has welcomed a European Parliament decision to call on the European
Commission to end the UK's individual opt-out from the 48-hour average
limit on the working week.
Risks
143, 14 February 2004
Britain
Overworked lecturer wins payout
A lecturer who said she often worked 70-hour weeks will receive more than
£40,000 in an out-of-court stress settlement. The NATFHE member
left her post at Henley College, Coventry, in 1998 after suffering a nervous
breakdown - the college had sent her on stress course, but hadn't reduced
her workload.
Risks
143, 14 February 2004
Britain
Work your proper hours day, 27 February 2004
If you do regular unpaid overtime, then TUC says on 27 February exercise
your right to work only your contractual hours, and remind your boss just
how much modern workplaces depend on unpaid overtime.
Risks
142, 7 February 2004
Britain
Long hours culture takes its toll on UK drivers
Excessive hours are having a damaging effect on the family and social
lives of most UK lorry drivers, with one in four drivers currently working
more than 60 hours per week, according to union research.
Risks
142, 7 February 2004
Britain
Euro union boss urges UK to avoid hours court action
The head of Europe's union umbrella group has urged the government to
avoid court proceedings and drop the UK opt-out from the 48-hour working
week ceiling.
Risks
142, 7 February 2004
Europe
MEPs support end to working time opt-out
Members of the European Parliament have voted for workplace safety and
against Britain's opt-out from the Working Time Directive.
Risks
141, 31 January 2004
Britain
HGV drivers secure milestone hours deal
An agreement between the union Usdaw and A F Blakemore & Son Ltd means
lorry drivers are set to maintain their earning levels for working fewer
hours. This is one of the first agreements in the country linked to the
Road Transport Working Time Directive, due to come into effect in March
2005.
Risks
141, 31 January 2004
Britain
TUC calls "work your proper hours"
day
It will be a case of "thank god it's Friday" on 27 February
2004 - the day the TUC has designated the UK's first national "work
your proper hours" day.
Risks
141, 31 January 2004
Finland
Sleep deficit comparable to drunkenness
Continuous sleep deficit causes a serious safety risk at the workplace,
a sleep expert has warned. Neurologist Markku Partinen said the cheapest
preventive occupational safety measure would be good quality sleep.
Risks
140, 24 January 2004
Britain
DTI study shows the need for work hours protection
More than a quarter of employees believe they are spending too long at
work, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
Risks
139, 17 January 2004
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