Identifying causes of occupational stress

The TUC believes that there are many factors about work which cause levels of stress for members.

 

If the branch is to convince management of the need to discuss occupational stress and make to make changes to reduce the levels of stress, we need some information from you.

 

Therefore we would like you to complete the following questions.  Your replies will be treated as confidential and you will notice that you are not asked to provide your name.  Please return the form to ………………….. using the attached envelope.

 

 

1.  Please complete

 

5.  Do any of the following describe your job or

how you feel about your job most of the time? If

yes please tick where relevant:-

Job title

 

Section/department

 

I work full-time/part-time

 

Boring

o

I have been doing this job for years… months…

 

Repetitive

o

2.  Have you received any training since you took up this job?                                                            YES/NO

 

Too much to do

o

3.  Do any of the following describe the conditions in your workplace? If yes, please tick:

 

Too little to do

o

Not enough space

o

 

Does not make full use of your skills, information and experience

o

Too cramped

o

 

Offers not job satisfaction

o

No privacy

o

 

Too many interruptions

o

Isolated

o

 

Have no say in how the job should be done

o

Feel cut off/shut off

o

 

Not given any information about changes in procedures

o

Inhuman layout

o

 

Not allowed time to adjust to any changes

o

Too hot

o

 

The only feedback is criticism

o

Too cold

o

 

6.  Describe the situation when you feel the most stressed at work

o

Noisy

o

 

 

Badly lit

o

 

 

Unsafe

o

 

 

Uncomfortable

o

 

 

4.  Is any of the equipment you use in your job

 

7.  Describe any situation when you enjoy your work

Old

o

 

 

In poor condition

o

 

 

Forcing you to work in uncomfortable positions for long periods of time

o

 

 

Always breaking down

o

 

 

Badly sited

o

 

 

Symptoms of occupational stress

 

Members have been complaining for some time that the levels of stress at work are affecting their health and well being.

 

In order to convince management that these complaints must be treated seriously and urgently the branch is gathering together various pieces of evidence.

 

Therefore we would like you to complete the following questions.  Your replies will be treated as confidential and you will notice that you are not asked to provide your name.  Please return the form to …………….. using the attached envelope.

 

 

1.  How would you describe your general health before you started your present job and now:

 

4(a)  While working do you ever feel

 

Before you started this job

Now

 

 

Never

Someti-mes*

Often*

Generally good

o

o

 

Irritated

o

o

o

Very good

o

o

 

Angry

o

o

o

Poor

o

o

 

Frustrated

o

o

o

2.  Do you suffer from any of the following:

 

Helpless

o

o

o

 

Never

Sometimes

Often

 

Anxious

o

o

o

Headaches/migrane

o

o

o

 

Confused

o

o

o

High blood pressure

o

o

o

 

Depressed

o

o

o

Aches and pains

o

o

o

 

Unable to concentrate

o

o

o

Indigestion

o

o

o

 

Bored

o

o

o

Stomach ulcers

o

o

o

 

Apathetic

o

o

o

Asthma

o

o

o

 

Over-tired

o

o

o

Anxiety

o

o

o

 

(b)  *If you have any of these feelings now, do

you think that they have become more regular in

the last 12 months?                                 YES/NO

Depression

o

o

o

 

Heart disease

o

o

o

 

5 (a)  How often do you use tobacco, alcohol or

drugs to help with the above symptoms?

Sleeplessness

o

o

o

 

 

Never

Sometimes*

Often*

Changes in heart rate

o

o

o

 

Tobacco

o

o

o

Exhaustion

o

o

o

 

Alcohol

o

o

o

3.  Has your GP ever suggested that your condition was due to your work?                                    

 

Drugs

o

o

o

 

 

(b) *If you answered  “sometimes” or “often”, has your use increased in the last 12 months?

 

 

YES/NO

                         

 


 

Model Agreement

 

Tackling stress in the Post Office

 

1         The parties to this agreement recognise that stress at work is a health and safety problem and that employers have a duty under Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Act to take all reasonably practicable measures to prevent stress at work.  Under Section 7 of the Act, employees have a duty not to endanger themselves or others and to co-operate with their employer in meeting statutory requirements.

2         This agreement will apply to all employees working in all areas of the Post Office Businesses’ activities.  The same opportunities for counselling and other help will be offered to all staff, regardless of sex, age, race, grade or job.

3         Where stress causes deterioration in job performance, this will be treated as a health problem and the sufferer will be encouraged to seek help under the terms of this policy.  There will be no discrimination against individuals suffering from stress.

4         The organisation and arrangements for dealing with stress at work will form part of the employer’s Health and Safety Policy, and should be read in conjunction with that policy.

5         Priority will be given to assessing the causes of stress at work and introducing measures to reduce or prevent stress.  The businesses will designate individuals, normally from the personnel function, who will be responsible for carrying out this assessment, in consultation with Union Representatives from the work area.  Specific training will be provided for people carrying out assessments.

6         Counselling will be offered by trained counsellors who may be drawn from the Welfare Service.  Such counselling will be strictly confidential between the counsellor and member of staff.  No details or records will be disclosed without the written permission of the member of staff concerned.

7         Employees suffering from stress and stress-related illnesses will be offered paid time off to attend stress counselling sessions.  In addition, names of stress counsellor and how to contact them will be posted on notice boards, so that staff can make arrangements for counselling outside their working hours if they wish.  (This is for staff who do not want to ask for time off and draw attention to their need for counselling.)

8         Information and training will be given to all employees.  This will include information on the causes and effects of stress; a copy of this stress agreement; arrangements for seeking help; arrangements for reporting causes of stress and work-related illnesses.

9         Employees unable to continue in their job because of stress-related illness will be offered alternative suitable posts, subject to agreed procedures for relocation.  Relocation will be considered as a last resort, unless requested by the member of staff concerned.

10      This policy will be reviewed jointly by the POUC and the Post Office Businesses, on a regular basis.  The initial review of effectiveness will take place twelve months after this policy comes into effect.  Thereafter, reviews will be carried out at intervals of not more than two years.