news analysis - work till you drop
WORKERS, SEPTEMBER 2003 ISSUE
THE BRITISH culture of long working hours and short holidays will be a major topic at the TUC this year and will form the focus for Work-Life Balance Week 2003*, which will run from 1 to 5 September. The Work-Life Balance Trust, which is coordinating the event, says that over two million workers from some of Britain's largest employers will be taking part in events.
Unfortunately it often takes more than this to convince politicians and employers. The government is trying to extend its opt-out from the EU working week ceiling of 48 hours. The opt-out meant working hours could be extended if staff agreed, which may happen when wages are low, the workplace concerned is short-staffed, or workers are forced to meet unrealistic targets. Unions want to end the situation where British workers work the longest hours, have the shortest lunch breaks and fewest holidays in Europe.
Various unions are gearing up for a tougher approach on hours. As reported on p4, Aston Martin workers are taking action against so-called "Martini" shifts requiring work "any time, any place, anywhere". The TGWU is taking a tough line over loopholes in new government regulations which may impact on bus workers. The PCS is launching an "Our Time" initiative with the Inland Revenue and is encouraging members to campaign on the issue.
Long hours and stressful working conditions are literally a matter of life or death. Hazards magazine and its website** have plenty of statistics to back this up. They cite TUC research to show that workers exposed to stress for at least half their working lives are 25% more likely to die from a heart attack and have 50% higher odds of suffering a fatal stroke.
Long-term work-related stress is worse for the heart than ageing 30 years or gaining 40 lbs in weight. Blue collar workers are more prone to these illnesses than executives, because of excessive overtime, night shifts and work with high psychological pressure and low reward.
Stress can literally "break your heart" and the Japanese have termed death from overwork "karoshi", an official occupational disease, and will compensate dependants if the worker was doing over 80 hours a month overtime! However, over 45 hours a month is considered significant in terms of risk, and thousands of British workers fall into this category.
DTI research has shown 1 in 6 workers (16%) work over 60 hours a week, a rise from 12% in 2000. 19% of men have visited the doctor because of stress, rising to 23% of the over 40s. TUC figures also show a big rise in compensation claims due to stress, which now account for about 10% of all personal injury cases.
The issue of long hours is inextricably linked to wages and conditions of service. Higher wages and a good pension scheme mean less necessity for overtime. Longer breaks and lunchtimes reduce stress and can make workers more productive in the long-term! Whatever the issue, a strongly unionised workplace is a good starting point for action and recruiting around health and safety can kick-start the process and become the basis for a wider discussion about control of our workplaces.
*Work-Life Balance Week: phone 0870 165 6700 for details.
**www.hazards.org/workedtodeath