Changing Times News * Number 86 * 3 July 2007
Changing Times News is the TUC's fortnightly online bulletin on work-life balance issues. Visit the website at http://www.tuc.org.uk/changingtimes
Edited by Rory O'Neill of Hazards magazine. Comments to Jo Morris. To unsubscribe or subscribe to this bulletin, click here. Past issues are available
CONTENTS
Union news : UNISON adds substance to new equality duty * Qualified welcome for extras hols * Scrap carers' earnings limit - Usdaw * TUC enquiry into vulnerable workers * Unite demands protection for agency workers
Other news : Shakeup of equality law planned * Baby-time initiative fails new fathers * Society failing dads says EOC * UK staff 'denied flexible work' * Pregnant women face discrimination * Government to act on work abuse evidence * News in brief
Resources : Winning worker controlled flexibility
International news : Europe: Report reveals gender problems at work * Global: One in five work 'excessive' hours * Global round-up
UNION NEWS
UNISON adds substance to new equality duty
Gender equality is about improving the working lives of both men and women, delegates to UNISON's conference were reminded in June - and they were told they were is a uniquely good position to do something about it. The gender equality duty, introduced in April, places a statutory duty on all public authorities to eliminate sex discrimination and promote equality. Crucially, the code of practice on the duty refers to consultation with and involvement of trade unions - identifying 13 employment priorities UNISON says are longstanding items on its equality bargaining agenda. The public sector union adds it is in an ideal position to influence the gender equality duty's implementation, since its members can participate in the consultation process both as service users and service providers. Sharon Foster of the UNISON national women's conference told delegates: 'You can use this duty to change your working lives for the better.' Delegates agreed that the union nationally should ensure all levels of the union are aware of the full scope of the duty and of the trade union right to participate. National executive member June Nelson said: 'It is not just about providing crèches and greater maternity leave, but issues that affect all members, both male and female. It could be used to open up job opportunities for both men and women, that will encourage more men into caring professions and more women into senior posts. It is about flexibility arrangements for men who are tired of the 24:7 culture, and a new opportunity to put in place strategies to close the gender pay gap.'
UNISON news report. EOC gender equality duty webpage.
Qualified welcome for extras hols
Unions have welcomed extra holiday entitlements for employees, but have criticised the employers' lobby for insisting the new rights be phased in. On 12 June the government announced six million workers in Britain would get up to eight extra days annual holiday, with the first four coming in October this year. The extra holidays will benefit up to 3.5 million women and 2.5 million men. The new regulations will boost the minimum holiday entitlement from 20 days a year to 24 days this October, and to 28 days from April 2009. TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: 'This is another important milestone on the road to giving workers in the UK the same holiday rights as those enjoyed by their colleagues in the rest of Europe - a real victory for union campaigning.' He added: 'While many will be disappointed that, as a result of employer lobbying, the extra leave will be phased in, the government is still on course to meet its manifesto commitment.' Community general secretary Michael Leahy said: 'For those who say that being a member of a trade union or having a Labour government doesn't make a difference today's announcement is a reality check. This issue was brought to the government's attention by trades unions on behalf of our members and worked through the Labour policy-making process and the government has implemented it.' Usdaw general secretary John Hannett said: 'Our members tell us extra holidays will give them a proper rest from their demanding retail jobs and more time to spend with their families and friends. Usdaw has always made the case that businesses will also benefit, as well-rested staff are absent less and are far more productive and motivated.' However Alan Ritchie, general secretary of construction union UCATT, expressed dismay at the staged introduction of the holiday rights. CBI deputy director-general John Cridland welcomed the delay. 'The government is right to introduce the extension of statutory annual leave gradually over the next two years, a 'big bang' approach would have been more painful for employers,' he said.
Government news release and holiday entitlement webpages. TUC news release and TUC WorkSmart holidays guide. Community news release. Usdaw news release. CBI news release. Personnel Today.
Scrap carers' earnings limit - Usdaw
Retail union Usdaw has lobbied MPs to scrap an 'outdated' benefits rule for Britain's working carers which means they lose a vital benefit if they earn more than £87 a week. Carers from the union told MPs in June the current rules means that retail staff who care for severely disabled adults and children and who earn more than £87 lose their Carers Allowance of £48.65 a week. This means thousands of Usdaw members who want to work more hours have to keep their hours deliberately low or risk losing their allowance. 'Retail offers incredible flexibility for carers who offer care day in and day out but still want the dignity and financial independence that work brings, but this outdated limit simply doesn't reflect the modern workplace,' said Usdaw general secretary John Hannett. 'Usdaw is urging MPs to scrap the earnings limit as our members are telling us that going to work is a necessity not an option if they want to avoid falling further into debt and retailers say it is bad for business as they want to offer more hours to carers.' The union leader added: 'The very least our members want is for the limit to be raised so they can work longer if they choose to. Usdaw knows MPs are sympathetic to changing the rule so their constituents who are carers can play a real role in driving Britain's booming retail sector forward and continue to save the state billions in care costs.'
TUC enquiry into vulnerable workers
Top business and community leaders have joined a TUC commission to investigate vulnerable working in the UK. The Commission on Vulnerable Employment (CoVE), launched on 31 May by TUC, will investigate the extent of workplace exploitation and consider improvements to the enforcement regime and legal protection available for vulnerable staff. TUC is calling on people who have experienced exploitation at work to report their experiences via the new, dedicated CoVE website. TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: 'Most people will have the odd grumble about their job, but are treated fairly most of the time. But some workers still experience rank exploitation that Charles Dickens would recognise. Most of the time their experience is hidden, but we have had a recent rash of shocking exposures of poor treatment.' He added: 'The job of our new Commission is to shine a light on Britain's hidden exploited workers, and work out what government, employers and unions should be doing to protect them. I'm delighted that we are being joined by business, community and expert members. Well-run businesses have nothing to fear from our work, but everything to lose from unfair competition with companies that rely on exploitation and law breaking to drive their business plan. And there are encouraging signs that government stands ready to listen to our findings.' TUC says up to one in five of the workforce may be considered vulnerable workers. They include agency workers and particularly the unskilled, casual workers, industrial home workers and migrant workers. A May report from the Dublin-based Eurofound thinktank said Europe's migrant workers are more likely than non-migrants to suffer unhealthy conditions at work, to work longer hours, and to perform shift work, night work, and weekend work.
TUC news release. TUC Commission on Vulnerable Employment. Tell your story: Confidential reports can be made online to TUC.
Eurofound news release. Employment and working conditions of migrant workers, Eurofound, May 2007.
Unite demands protection for agency workers
The government has been handed a damning union dossier revealing the abuse and misuse of agency and temporary workers by firms that are household names. An in-depth survey conducted by Unite's Amicus section across manufacturing, finance, construction and the graphical and media industries found what the union describes as systematic abuse of agency workers amongst some of the UK's best known names. The companies surveyed included Coca Cola, BMW, Harper Collins, WH Smiths, Unisys and Honda - with problems identified at each. South African workers supplied by Right4Staff Agency to Unisys were sleeping five to a bed, the June 2007 union dossier reveals. Unite intervened when it was reported workers were being bussed to and from work each day and that some individuals had been sleeping in the staff canteen. Unite joint general secretary Derek Simpson said: 'Regardless of how you define a McJob, many employers are using agency workers to undermine pay and conditions and replace permanent workers with cheaper, less qualified labour, leaving hundreds of thousands in a cycle of insecure and low paid employment.' Unite is calling on the government to implement the EU Directive on Temporary and Agency Workers and the Temporary Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Bill. Other measures sought by the union include the licensing and registration of employment agencies.
OTHER NEWS
Shakeup of equality law planned
Moves to limit discrimination on gender grounds have been announced by the government. The shakeup, outlined in a government consultation paper aimed at rationalising the UK's complex web of discrimination legislation, has been criticised by TUC and equality organisations for doing too little to protect workers, including those with caring responsibilities, from discrimination at work. Measures proposed include a requirement on private clubs to end discrimination against women and a right to breast feed in public. The 12 June paper, the Discrimination Law Review, is intended to lead to a single equality bill designed to simplify and improve legislation and fill in gaps in protection for particular groups. The green paper will also explore ways to tackle age discrimination outside employment. Discrimination law, which has grown up over the past 40 years, is currently contained in nine main pieces of legislation and some 90 statutory instruments, together with a range of guidance documents. The government argues this complexity acts as a barrier to fairness. Commenting on the results of the Discrimination Law Review, TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: 'We welcome efforts to simplify and consolidate equality law. The right to be protected from unfair discrimination needs to be easy to understand and easy to enforce. There are also some useful improvements suggested, including more protection from harassment. But those looking for major advances today - such as protection for those who fall foul of employers because of their caring responsibilities - will be disappointed.' He added: 'The TUC will use the consultation period to press for a more effective and wide-ranging package. We will work to stop the review going down as a missed opportunity to tackle unfair discrimination at work, not just the golf club.' Jenny Watson, chair of the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), said the green paper 'has missed a real opportunity to tackle the pay gap. Women working full time still suffer a 17 per cent pay gap, and the part-time pay gap - nearly 40 per cent - has barely shifted in a generation. We hope the consultation will prompt a debate that results in transformative suggestions on how to address this problem - and that these suggestions focus on preventing problems from arising in the first place, rather than tackling them through the tribunal system when they do.' The consultation period ends on 4 September 2007.
Government news release. Discrimination Law Review: A Framework for Fairness: Proposals for a Single Equality Bill for Great Britain - A consultation paper.
TUC news release. EOC news release and discrimination law review webpages. The Guardian and Catherine Bennett commentary.
Baby-time initiative fails new fathers
An initiative to give new fathers extra time at home with their babies has been criticised after it was revealed that by the government's own estimates only 4 per cent of men may take up the offer. Family campaigners said the admission showed that government attempts to address work-life balance were being undermined and were no longer a priority. In theory, 239,000 new fathers can take advantage of the move to spend up to six months on paternity leave. But figures drawn up by the government show ministers expect only 10,000 men will benefit, because many are not entitled to leave or cannot afford to take more than the statutory two weeks around the birth. Campaigners are warning that the scheme, under which mothers will have the option of letting their partner take the second six months of their maternity leave, provided that they return to work themselves, will not fulfil government promises of greater choice for families on care for children. Those fathers whose partners do not work or do not return to work after having a baby will not be eligible to take the additional paternity leave. The campaigners say thousands more fathers will not be able to afford to swap their salary for leave paid at the statutory rate of just over £100 a week - well below the minimum wage. Duncan Fisher, of the fatherhood pressure group Fathers Direct, said government forecasts of takeup of 4 per cent to 8 per cent of eligible fathers should be set against a 90 per cent plus takeup of paternity rights in other European countries.
Society failing dads says EOC
A new generation of dads is being held back by society's failure to recognise the importance of fathers, according to a new report. 'Fathers and the modern family', published in June by the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) and based on a new analysis of the Millennium Cohort Surveys (MCS), warns that while today's fathers are eager to play a more hands on role with their children, they are faced with barriers, both at work and by Britain's public services. EOC says many fathers are frustrated at the lack of time they have with their children. Almost two-thirds (63 per cent) of fathers who worked full-time did not feel that they spent enough time with their 9-10 month old baby. It adds that the workplace is still adjusting to fathers' aspirations to spend time at home when their children are born and to share the caring role with mothers. EOC chair Jenny Watson said: 'The last ten years has seen a strong government agenda to provide more support to mothers, who are now benefiting from 39 weeks maternity leave and increases in statutory maternity pay. Dads however receive just two weeks of paid paternity leave. And whilst both parents of young children now have the right to request flexible working, men are more likely to have their requests declined by their employer. Since a third of fathers are working more than 48 hours a week that has a real impact on family life.'
EOC news release. Fathers and the modern family [pdf]. Full analysis: Parental care and employment in early childhood - Working Paper Series No 57 by Shirley Dex and Kelly Ward, Institute of Education [pdf].
UK staff 'denied flexible work'
UK companies lag behind their European counterparts in offering flexible working, a report has suggested. This has left many people stuck in a culture of fixed hours and office 'presenteeism', the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) study says. 'Enter the timelords', published in June, says of 8,000 firms quizzed, 90 per cent in mainland Europe made flexitime available, compared with 48 per cent in the UK. Only one in five UK firms give staff chances to work away from the office - half as many as in nations such as Germany and Denmark. EOC wants to extend the right to request flexible working to all employees. EOC chair Jenny Watson said teleworking, shift-swapping and interim management were being offered by trailblazing management, resulting in more engaged and productive staff. 'The time has now come for this innovation to spread across the workforce to reach the UK's 29 million workers,' Ms Watson said. 'Our report lays down the social and economic imperative for a new culture of flexibility at work. But flexible working is still too often seen as just a concession for parents and carers, and comes at the cost of poor pay and prospects. Extending the right to request flexible working to everyone is a crucial step towards breaking this stigma and making a new culture at work a reality.'
EOC news release. BBC News Online. Work Wise UK news release.
'Enter the timelords' [pdf] is the final report for the EOC's General Formal Investigation into transforming the workplace. EOC transforming work webpages. Busting myths about new ways of working - EOC leaflet [pdf].
Pregnant women face discrimination
Pregnant women face bullying and discrimination at work and are passed over for promotion, according to a report by a leading charity. The survey, released on 26 June by baby charity Tommy's and People Management magazine, found that one in seven of the 600 human resources (HR) employees polled believed line managers in their organisation did not respect the rights of pregnant employees. One in five of those surveyed had been approached by a pregnant employee who complained of being discriminated against, while a similar number had witnessed a pregnant worker being passed over for promotion. Around one in seven said women had been made to feel they had let the company down by getting pregnant while others questioned said they had witnessed a pregnant worker being put under pressure to make up for time lost due to check-ups. Jane Brewin, chief executive of Tommy's, said: 'It is clear that pregnant women in the workplace are continuing to be made to work under pressure and to be made to feel guilty from the moment they have announced their pregnancy.' She added: 'I was shocked to read that one company actually offers a financial bonus to those who return to work earlier than the stated statutory maternity leave.' Jenny Watson, chair of the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), said the situation was appalling, adding: 'This discrimination - fuelled by a lack of understanding of how to manage pregnancy at work - drives thousands of women out of the workplace and causes misery to the parents who suffer at this important time.'
Tommy's news release [pdf]. EOC news release. ITV News.
Government to act on work abuse evidence
The government wants unions, businesses and workers to pass on reports of abuse of vulnerable workers, and has said it will act on this evidence. The call came on 21 June at the first meeting of the Vulnerable Worker Enforcement Forum, launched by the government on 1 June to crack down on abuses of workplace rights. The forum will consider whether abuses are tackled effectively through existing enforcement and support mechanisms or whether improvements to existing mechanisms, or new approaches, are needed to raise compliance 'without increasing burdens for good employers.' Ministers say whilst most workers have benefited from initiatives like the National Minimum wage, rights for part time workers, statutory holidays and better health and safety there are still some who are not getting the protection they should. They say the government will consider evidence of employment rights abuses from individuals and from unions, employers and front line enforcement agencies. The forum will be chaired by the employment minister and will include representatives from unions including the TUC, Unite's TGWU section, GMB and UCATT, business groups including the CBI, enforcement bodies including Revenue and Customs and the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate and Citizen's Advice. TUC general secretary Brendan Barber, commenting on the launch of the forum, said: 'Not knowing what to do when something goes wrong at work or knowing who to complain to is a problem for many workers, especially if they are not aware of their employment rights or don't have a good command of the English language.' Commenting on a government-backed and TUC led pilot scheme to assist vulnerable workers in London's Canary Wharf, he added: 'The pilot at Canary Wharf will be an invaluable resource for vulnerable workers in the capital, allowing us to test ways of helping vulnerable workers and their employers, and preventing ill treatment.'
DTI news release. Personnel Today. Email your evidence of poor employment practices to the Vulnerable Worker Enforcement Forum. Labour Party news release. Financial Times.
NEWS IN BRIEF
Small firm solution : New research from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) shows that small firms can implement flexible working arrangements better and with less bureaucracy than large firms - contrary to the perception that only large firms can manage flexible working successfully. The June 2007 'Flexible working: Good business' report says in addition to the impact on firms' bottom line, flexibility can help reduce the stress that many employees feel when they try to balance the demands of home and working life. CIPD news release.
Developing women : Flexible working, mentoring and networking groups are not enough to get more women into leadership roles, a London Business School study released in May has found. 'Inspiring women: Corporate best practice in Europe' found that too little time was still being spent developing women to be business leaders and concluded women are unlikely to thrive in organisations where fewer than 30 per cent of the senior executives are not already females. London Business School news release [pdf]. The Guardian. Personnel Today.
Flexible key : Firms have been urged to offer more flexible working arrangements after research showed they were finding it increasingly difficult to hang on to their staff. A survey of 900 organisations carried out by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development found that almost eight in 10 employers struggled to retain their staff last year. CIPD news release. The Guardian.
Brown action : New prime minister Gordon Brown has been urged to close a gender pay gap that leaves women's salaries trailing men's by an average of 17 per cent. The women's rights group, the Fawcett Society, said Mr Brown should take a lesson from the Wimbledon tennis championships which in 2007 will pay equal prize money to men and women for the first time. Fawcett Society news release. The Guardian. BBC News Online.
Saving disgrace : Women's savings are worth 33 per cent less than men's, according to research released in June by the Fawcett Society. This gender savings gap is even bigger than the much better documented 17 per cent gender pay gap, with Dr Katherine Rake, director of the society, commenting: 'Women and their families are being left vulnerable through lack of savings - and this adds to the ever more compelling argument that urgent action is needed to end the pay gap once and for all.' Fawcett Society news release.
Family emergencies : A guide from retail union Usdaw says every employee has the right to take a reasonable amount of time off work to deal with an unexpected emergency involving a dependant. It says employees have this right from day one on the job and are protected by law from dismissal or victimisation for using this right, although it adds in most cases the leave will be unpaid. Usdaw publication alert. Your right to time off for family emergencies [pdf].
Carer crisis : The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has warned of a 'caring time bomb', as poor pay and staff turnover undermine the female-dominated caring professions. New research by EOC into the cost of undervaluing women's work reveals that many women in 21st century Britain are treated as if they are 'labourers of love' or working for 'pocket money pay'. EOC news release. The Guardian.
Carer consultation : A huge national debate on how to improve the future of the nation's six million carers was kicked off by the government in June. A dedicated website, which will take comments up to mid-September, is part of a major nationwide consultation exercise the government says is intended to engage carers in debate to determine 'what would make a positive difference or improve your life as a carer?' Government news release and New deal for carers consultation website.
Carer lobby : Eurocarers - a new platform for carers within the European Union launched on 12 June - says it will be a lobbying and campaigning force giving voice to the estimated 100 million carers living within the EU who provide unpaid care to a partner, relative or friend. The group comprises representatives of 15 organisations and research bodies from nine countries - Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Sweden and the UK. Carers UK news release. Eurocarers.
Cut glass ceiling : The glass ceiling preventing flexible working for people in senior managerial jobs is beginning to crack as City banks, law firms and other top companies allow key staff to balance work and life. A new study sponsored by investment bankers Lehman Brothers suggests that even the highly conservative employment practices of the City are being challenged by men and women who want to combine high-level work with caring for children or older relatives - and as result, flexible working policies such as compressed hours, home working and sometimes part-time working or job sharing are beginning to extend from low-level posts to managerial roles for the first time in the UK. The Guardian.
Train and gain : Senior women from the world of politics, trade unionism, equalities and education met on 19 June to discuss how to make sure that women across the country can access quality training and education. Unionlearn director Liz Smith said: 'Women are some of the most vulnerable workers, often low-paid or part-time and many lost the chance to really reach their potential in learning because of family or caring duties,' adding: 'Union-led learning provides a second chance for many women, who can take up opportunities in the workplace, which may be tailored around their working and family lives.' Unionlearn news release. Unionlearn website.
Breastfeeding right : Women would get the legal right to breastfeed in public, under a new law being proposed by the government. The measure in the Single Equality Bill aims to boost figures suggesting only 20 per cent of British women breastfeed their babies for the recommended six months. The Guardian. BBC News Online.
Suicide drive : The NHS has been urged by a coroner to consider the impact of reforms on staff, after a despairing hospital manager threw herself to her death from a motorway bridge. Morag Wilson, 32, a manager at Manchester's Wythenshawe hospital, stabbed herself with a kitchen knife before jumping 100ft from the M60 into the Manchester ship canal - the inquest heard she had been facing huge pressure at work because of government reforms under the Agenda for Change review. The Guardian. Hazards worked to death webpages.
Bad lessons : A survey by lecturers' union UCU has found the majority of staff at a UK university are suffering stress as a result of heavy-handed management, including a holiday bar at certain times. UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said: 'A decent work/life balance is crucial to staff being able to do their jobs properly.' UCU news release.
Banana employment : Unions say revelations that a leading supplier of fair trade fruit has exploited Eastern European migrant workers in the UK proves the case for improved employment protection for vulnerable workers. A BBC investigation broadcast in May found workers supplied by an employment agency to Pratt's Bananas in Luton reported having to work excessive hours, six or seven days a week, and feared losing their jobs if they refused. BBC News Online. TUC news release. TUC migrant workers' webpages.
Nursing problems : Most nurses suffer stress-related ill-health and almost half feel their sex lives are damaged by the emotional stress of their job, according to a poll for Nursing Times. The magazine surveyed almost 2,000 nurses, and found 70 per cent said they suffered from physical or mental health problems linked to work-related stress, 44 per cent said their sex life was suffering as a result and a quarter said they had started drinking more. The Sun. Channel 4 News. BBC News Online.
Balanced docs : The NHS must provide more flexible working as the service continues to attract more female doctors, the British Medical Association (BMA) has said. Dr Jo Hilborne, chair of the BMA Junior Doctors Committee, said: 'It's not just the fact that more and more women are entering medicine - all staff should have the right to work-life balance.' Personnel Today.
Community day : A national bank holiday should be created to encourage more people to volunteer in their communities, unions and charities say. The TUC, the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) and Community Service Volunteers (CSV) claim the day would also be a chance to celebrate the unpaid work already done across the UK. TUC news release. BBC News Online. Personnel Today.
Some holiday : More than half of employees are anxious about their workload before taking a holiday, according to a report from Office Angels. The survey of 660 office staff revealed the positive effects of taking a break only last for three days for most people because they are concerned about their job, with three out of four of those polled saying they kept their mobile phones on during a holiday as a 'lifeline' to the office, while one in seven admitted to being glad at returning to work. ITV news. The Scotsman. Sky News.
RESOURCES
Winning worker controlled flexibility
Many workers know all about flexibility - they are asked to be so flexible so often they are tied in knots. But real flexibility - the sort controlled by the workers doing the job and that means life and work aren't always in conflict - can be a very good thing. The Flex Pack - a unique new resource for unions from the US Labor Project for Working Families - offers an action plan to stop workers being strangled by 'fake flex' working, with reduced wages, irregular work schedules and more night and weekend work. The project says: 'The demand that workers be available round the clock puts the company's needs first and the needs of working families last.' By way of a worker-friendly, family friendly alternative, the project says its Flex Pack is 'a valuable toolkit on organising, bargaining and legislating for worker controlled flexibility.' It adds: 'Flextime is an opportunity for unions to respond to the most deeply felt needs of organised and unorganised workers alike.' The Flex Pack gives a step-by-step guide on: Why union members want more job flexibility; how to tell genuine flextime from 'fake flex' gimmicks; what specific flextime options are worth bargaining for; and when flextime can be a 'powerhouse organising tool'. Netsy Firestein, executive director of the Labor Project for Working Families, commented: 'The bottom line is that American workplaces today no longer match the lived reality of our working families,' adding 'compared to other advanced economies, our working families are locked in a time vice. Something's got to give. With the Flex Pack, unions are equipped to take action.'
The Flex Pack. Labor Project for Working Families website and news release [pdf]. AFL-CIO Now.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Europe: Report reveals gender problems at work
Too little is being done to tackle gender based discrimination in Europe's workplaces, a new report has concluded. 'Industrial relations developments 2006,' published by Dublin-based work standards thinktank Eurofound, focuses on how the restructuring of career patterns and work organisation impacts on women's career progression. It concludes job segregation is still rife, with many women concentrated in such sectors as health or education, and often employed in part-time jobs with few opportunities for training or promotion. Eurofound says the findings 'suggest that more legislation, adequately applied at company level, may help in closing the gender pay gap, increasing skills levels and enabling women to break through the glass ceiling into management.' It adds: 'Although trade unions are aware of the importance of gender equality and have been campaigning actively for improvements, many employers remain unconvinced of the need to tackle the issue.'
Eurofound news release and report, Industrial relations developments in Europe 2006.
Global: One in five work 'excessive' hours
Nearly a century after adopting its first international standard on working time, a new study by the International Labour Office (ILO) estimates that one in five workers around the world - or over 600 million people - are still working more than 48 hours a week. 'Working time around the world: Trends in working hours, laws and policies in a global comparative perspective', released 7 June 2007, says an estimated 22 per cent of the global workforce, or 614.2 million workers, are working 'excessively' long hours. Shorter hours, the report says, can have positive consequences including benefits to workers' health and family lives, reduced accidents at the workplace, as well as greater productivity and equality between the sexes. At the same time, the study says a considerable number of short hours workers in developing and transition countries may be underemployed, so more likely to fall into poverty. 'The good news is that progress has been made in regulating normal working hours in developing and transition countries, but overall the findings of this study are definitely worrying, especially the prevalence of excessively long hours,' said ILO's Jon C Messenger, a co-author of the study. The report identifies a clear 'gender gap' in working time, saying men tend to work longer average hours than women worldwide, with women working shorter hours in almost every country studied. Moreover, men are more likely to work long hours than women, while women are far more likely to work short hours (fewer than 35 per week) than men. The report concludes that this is probably due to their bearing the primary responsibility for unpaid work in households and providing care for family members, not only children but also the elderly and individuals suffering from diseases such as HIV/AIDS.
ILO news release. Working time around the world: Trends in working hours, laws, and policies in a global comparative perspective by Sangheon Lee, Deirdre McCann and Jon C Messenger, ISBN 978-92-2-119311-1, ILO, Geneva, from ILO Publications. Report summary [pdf].
ILO video reports: Gender differences in working hours in informal economies. Interview with Jon C Messenger on why we work such long hours.
GLOBAL ROUND UP
Pray day : Trade unionists fighting Sunday working in Poland have won support from Roman Catholic leaders. The move came after the start of a series of go-slows in support of demands for the right not to work on Sundays at supermarkets belonging to the British retail chain, Tesco. Ecumenical News International (ENI).
Work's a drag : Caught in a long-running dispute with the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) over staffing issues, some air traffic controllers have chosen to voice their displeasure by wearing outlandish clothing, with some men even dressing as women. Their union, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), says some workers, upset over changes in schedules, a lack of mandatory breaks during shifts and money issues, have turned to wearing drag in protest. Beacon Journal.
Unbalanced US : The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has issued a guidance document on how agency-enforced laws apply to workers with caregiving responsibilities. 'With this new guidance, the Commission is clarifying how the federal EEO laws apply to employees who struggle to balance work and family,' said agency vice chair Leslie E Silverman, adding: 'Fortunately, many employers have recognised employees' need to balance work and family, and have responded in very positive and creative ways.' EEOC news release, guidance and related Q&A.
Push it! Women's magazine Marie Claire is lobbying Australia's federal government to introduce mandatory paid maternity leave. The intention is to place the major responsibility for paid maternity leave with the government instead of relying on individual employers, as for two-thirds of all Australian women, the experience of first-time motherhood is affected by the fact her employer will offer no paid maternity leave. Marie Claire. ABC News. NSW/ACT Independent Education Union news release.
Raw deal : Industrial relations reforms in Australia have left women worse off in pay terms compared with men. The impact of the federal government's WorkChoices programme holds whatever their occupation or education status, and includes professional and managerial women as well as those in lower paid, less skilled work. National Foundation for Australian Women (NFAW) news release and What women want report [pdf]. The Age.
Everybody NZ : Support is growing in New Zealand for family friendly working rights for all. Commenting after the June release of a Department of Labour consultation on possible approaches for 'quality flexible work', Carol Beaumont, secretary of the national union federation CTU, said: 'It is very encouraging to see a consensus building that flexible work is important for all New Zealand workers, not just parents of children under five years or with disabilities, as the current Bill before parliament provides for.' NZCTU news release. NZ DoL Quality flexible work consultation.
Menstrual leave : Citibank Korea has abandoned an appeal to the Supreme Court of an earlier court decision which supported a claim by female employees that they were entitled to compensation for unused menstrual leave. Before a five-day work week was introduced in July 2004, female employees were supposed to be compensated if they did not use their one day of monthly menstrual leave. Korea International Labour Foundation.
Australian suicide : The family and friends of a line technician at Australian communications giant Telstra who killed himself believe increasing performance targets and plans to install satellite tracking in his work van drove him to suicide. They allege Leon Dousset, a Telstra technician for 32 years, killed himself in March, depressed because new Telstra performance monitoring had forced him to adopt substandard work practices. Daily Telegraph.
French suicides : A second French car firm has had oppressive management practices linked to worker suicides, with CGT trade union representatives at the Mulhouse site of Peugeot-Citroën in eastern France denouncing management's practice of sending 'guilt-inducing' letters to workers on sick leave. Three suicides in six months at Renault's Technocentre research centre have also highlighted concerns about the intolerable workplace stress facing overworked staff in the highly competitive car industry. ETUI-REHS news report.
Damaging cuts : Workplace restructuring and job losses have a serious effect on the well-being of workers, a top academic has concluded. Professor Michael Quinlan concluded that regulators, employers and unions have failed to respond adequately to 'substantial if not compelling evidence that downsizing and organisational restructuring pose a serious risk the physical and mental health and wellbeing of workers.' Michael Quinlan. Organisational restructuring/downsizing, OHS regulation and worker health and wellbeing, National Research Centre for OHS Regulation, Working Paper 52, 2007 [ pdf ]. OHS Reps newsletter.
Newsletter (6,600 words) issued 3 Jul 2007
