In addition to highlighting workplace success stories that promote a healthy work and lifestyle balance, this e-bulletin will also provide:

• Practical steps to achieve a better work/life balance at your workplace
• Union members’ personal stories of health/lifestyle improvements which in turn enhanced their working lives
• HR/Management best practice
• Academic research on public policy responses to issues such as Australia’s ageing population and declining fertility rate
• International briefs, updates and research
• Competitions and giveaways
• Letters forum and contributory articles section

You have been sent this e-bulletin because you:

• Previously subscribed to This Working Life
• Responded to an ACTU campaign by email
• Provided your contact details

In this edition:

1. Study links long hours to poor health

2. Village maternity leave a first

3. Mental stress on rise

4. Vic Public Servants win family friendlier workplaces

5. Bosses bypass baby boomers

6. Overseas in brief

7. Refer a friend competition

Study links long hours to poor health

While the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is in denial about the harmful effects of workplace stress, research to support the ACTU’s Reasonable Hours case shows that long working hours increase the likelihood of experiencing high stress levels at work by five times.

In a US study of 600 workers, extended hours and overtime have been cited as the major cause of stress which in turn led to disability claims, decreased productivity and increased absenteeism (Dawson, 2001).

Long work hours have also been shown to increase the risk of heart disease, and can worsen existing medical problems including diabetes, epilepsy, hypertension, asthma and digestive problems. There is also evidence to suggest that long working hours increase the risk of miscarriage, infertility, reduce foetal growth and cause depression.

The ACTU’s Reasonable Hours Test Case, if successful, would implement flexible and practical measures including guidelines on excessive hours of work and unhealthy roster patterns.

Click here to find out more about the ACTU Reasonable Hours Case.

Village maternity leave win a first

Over half of Village Cinema’s permanent work force will be able to access four weeks paid maternity leave in a landmark first for the industry.

Under a new enterprise agreement, Village permanent full-time and part-time employees will be able to access the new entitlement after 12 months continuous employment.

“In a female dominated industry such as this, the paid maternity leave arrangement is a significant and progressive development,” said a Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance representative.

Click here to download the kit to make maternity leave protection a reality.

Mental stress on rise

According to the World Federation for Mental Health, depression and heart disease, both linked to stress at work, are set to become the major public and occupational health issues.

It is well known that where stress levels are high, there is a corresponding high level of physical injury. Less well known is how stress at work affects many people physically and psychologically on a day to day basis. Internalising stress– soldiering on - can lead to a range of physical and psychological effects.

It particularly affects people in sedentary jobs. Chronic stress can lead to an increase of cholesterol and fats in the arteries, which is a significant risk factor for cardio-vascular disease.

A draft guide compiled by the ACTU OHS Unit in October last year and due to be released in March reveals that the people who suffer most from the ill-health effects of stress are those with least control over the way their work is done.

Additional information:

ACTU OHS contact: Sue Pennicuik

Phone: 03 9664 7300

Email: ohs@actu.asn.au

Vic public servants win family friendlier workplaces

Victorian public servants have secured an in-principle agreement to extend the existing right to work part-time for women returning from maternity leave or fathers if they are the primary carer.

In an agreement currently being finalised with the Victorian Government, members can now return to work on a part-time basis until the child starts school.

Results of a survey conducted by the CPSU show that members returning from maternity leave prefer the existing entitlement of returning to work part-time until the child’s second birthday to be extended to when the child turns five.

The survey also revealed:

• Members would like unpaid maternity leave extended
• Some staff and management were unaware of existing entitlements and the benefits of adopting family friendly practices in the workplace

Click here to download the kit to make maternity leave protection a reality.

Additional information:

Union contact: Julian Kennelly

Phone: 03 9639 1822

Email: jkennelly@cpsuvic.org

Bosses bypass baby boomers

Inadequate federal policy responses to changes in the population structure as Australia’s baby boomers near retirement will lead to chronic labour market shortages for employers according to a survey conducted by the Social Policy Research Centre at the University of NSW.

Key findings of the research reveal that despite their reputation for favouring younger, risk-taking innovators, employers prefer a diverse workforce of intelligent, reliable, team workers with industry rather than computing experience.

While the Federal Government is implementing incentives such as awards for best practice and education to encourage employers to change their attitudes towards older workers, the measures are not comprehensive enough to stem the drain of the labour market pool.

“Encouraging self-funded retirees through the introduction of the superannuation levy is good but will be more helpful for the next generation, not the current one,” said Michael Bittman, one of the authors of the report.

“Some things will change, first of all there will be an out and out shortage of younger workers, then as the customer base of businesses get older this will naturally progress to a preference for older workers.”

Over fifty per cent of employers said they would be responsive to incentives such as wage subsidies in influencing their recruitment decisions.

For a copy of the report click here.

Overseas in brief

Get A Life! - next year the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions will launch a campaign for union members and their families and communities about the impact of work on the rest of our lives.

Employers dismiss stress fears – one in five of the UK workforce says that stress is the single biggest barrier to improved productivity. And yet, hardly any employers believe them.

Long hours 'stress British workers' - More than half of British workers are suffering from stress and the problem is getting worse a survey has suggested.

Got a friend who’d like to receive Work on Life?

For your chance to win a Village complimentary cinema pass for two just forward the names and email addresses of five people who would like to receive future editions of this e-bulletin.

Please email getalife@actu.asn.au with “competition” in the subject line by 28 February 2002 and you could win. The winner will be announced in the next edition of Work on Life.

If you would prefer not to receive future editions of this e-bulletin please email back to: getalife@actu.asn.au with “remove” in the subject heading.

Let us know you’re out there! Email back your comments, stories or letters to getalife@actu.asn.au