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THE FOLLOWING LECTURE HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR ALL STUDENTS

THE FOLLOWING LECTURE HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR ALL STUDENTS. This lecture may contain information, ideas, concepts and discursive anecdotes that may be thought provoking and challenging.

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THE FOLLOWING LECTURE HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR ALL STUDENTS

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  1. THE FOLLOWING LECTUREHAS BEEN APPROVED FOR ALL STUDENTS This lecture may contain information, ideas, concepts and discursive anecdotes that may be thought provoking and challenging Any issues raised in the lecture may require the viewer to engage in further thought, insight, reflection or critical evaluation

  2. Workplace Stress Is modern life really rubbish? Are we just moaning too much? Professor Craig Jackson Prof. Occupational Health Psychology Head of Psychology BCU craig.jackson@bcu.ac.uk

  3. Stress – The Basics Definition problems Not just at workplace Individual response Work-life Balance Control Demand Personality Cause of many secondary health problems Stress is not a useful concept because: Loose diagnostic criteria Too many triggers Too many responses Too many effect modifiers Used too casually Fashionable Positive perceptions Not reliably measured

  4. Workplace Hazards – current status Shiftworking: 1 in 5 employed likely to increase with growth Long hours: >48 hours per week Fallen due to EWTD Still > most of Europe Psychosocial: 5 mill employees perceive effects 13 mill working days lost Mundane occupations suffer Chronic stress more problematic Physical: Noise technical Dust changes Chemical monitoring Vibration OELs Fatigue Somatic symptoms Sleep MSDs Depression Cardiovascular Accidents Depression QoL

  5. France Telecom Case Privatised in 1998 40,000 jobs gone since 1998 186,000 employees 45% of those outside France Used to be public sector employer new working conditions modernisation cultural & organisational changes needed internal job transfers 4.3% fall in profits in 1Q of 2009 182 million customers in 5 continents

  6. France Telecom Case

  7. France Telecom Case • Between Feb 2008 – Sep 2009 • 23 staff committed suicide • 9th Sept: 49 yr old male employee stabbed himself in meeting – told he would be undergoing internal job transfer • 11th Sep: 32 yr old female employee leapt to death from office window • 14th Sep 53 yr old senior manager overdosed • 1st Oct: 51yr old male employee jumped from road bridge – note blamed work “atmosphere” • French suicide rate: 26.4 per 100,000 male deaths • 9.2 per 100,000 female deaths • 17.8 per 100,000 all deaths

  8. France Telecom’s Defence • France Telecom’s two-point defence: • “There were 28 suicides in the company in 2000, so 23 suicides over 17 months is actually an improvement and not evidence of an epidemic” • 2) “Most suicides caused by personal problems not professional ones”

  9. France Telecom Case Oct 2009 Deputy CEO Louis-Pierre Wenes (second in command) resigns CEO Didier Lombard – vowed to end the “Spiral of death” Phone helpline Counselling Suspending job transfers French Labour Minister, Xavier Darcos wants: 2,500 biggest companies to plan “anti-stress” strategies Plan it with Unions Govt has 27% stake in FT Health & Happiness now on “National Agenda” in France

  10. Foxconn and the iPad Manufacturing giant in China Renowned for efficiency – 300,000 employees Laptops, mobiles - Nokia, Apple, Dell HP 13 suicide attempts since Jan 2010 – 10 deaths

  11. Foxconn and the iPad Compensation for families in poverty Working conditions – long shifts, rigid, Oppressive, poor pay Company asked workers to sign a letter promising not to kill themselves (now withdrawn) Building giant safety net to prevent jumpers from Dorms and Workshops Hiring counsellors and Buddhist monks

  12. Work has not really changed . . .

  13. . . . Attitudes have changed

  14. When did this happen? NOTICE OUR STAFF HAVE THE RIGHT TO WORK IN AN ENVIRONMENT FREE FROM VIOLENCE We will prosecute anyone found abusing or threatening employees * *This will not affect your treatment

  15. Misperceptions of workplaces UK Climate of: over-perception of danger stress being unavoidable wanting too much in return Attention Deficit Trait

  16. Common Popular Headlines

  17. High Profile Stress Cases • Isaac Blake VS Ragdoll Productions • 2008 • “Cold-blooded murder of English Justice” • Johnstonevs Bloomsbury H.A Doctor • Walker vs Northumberland C.C. Social Worker • Jones vs Birmingham C.C Teacher • Hurley vs Gwent Constabulary Police officer • Fearonvs Martin Burglar • Armstrong vs Home Office Prison officer

  18. High Profile Case 1 Andrew Hurley vs Gwent Constabulary Armed Response Unit First on scene of armed robbery – Three armed offenders at bank Hurley shot 1. all 3 in custody Won a commendation for the job Resultant stress & depression Left job 5 months later Wanted £250,000 for loss of earnings and pension rights Claimed offered no post-intervention counselling Kept isolated for an hour after event – blood on hands Tribunal heard evidence from Gwent Co. that counselling was offered 2 months after the shooting Gwent Co. Claimed Hurley turned down initial offers of counselling

  19. Court of Appeal Guidelines (16 points) Individuals who do not notify their employer of any problems are less likely to to succeed in claiming compensation Employers entitled to assume employee can withstand normal job-pressure unless any vulnerability or problem is known No occupations should be regarded as intrinsically dangerous to mental health Employers offering counselling and access to treatment unlikely to be found in breach of duty Employers not in breach of duty if only option is to demote or fire employee, if a willing worker continues in same job Necessary to identify all steps employers (could) have taken before finding them in breach

  20. Traditional model of Disease Development Pathogen Disease(pathology) Modifiers Lifestyle Individual susceptibility

  21. Dominance of the biopsychosocial model Mainstream in last 15 years Hazard Illness (well-being) Psychosocial Factors Attitudes Behaviour Quality of Life Rise of the worker as a “psychological entity”

  22. The Biopsychosocial Model – works on all levels

  23. “Everything is bad for us these days…”

  24. Top 5 Workplace Health Problems 1. Hearing loss NIHL, TTS, Exposure 2. Respiratory problems Asbestosis, Carbon Black, Recycling 3. Skin problems Hairdressers, Health care, Engineering 4. Mental health Stress, Anxiety, Uncertainty 5. Musculoskeletal disorders Desk workers, Cleaners, Drivers

  25. “High Effort Low Reward” “High Demand Low Control” Potential Health Risks 3x Cardiovascular problems 2x Substance abuse 3x Back pain STRESS! 2-3x Injuries 5x Certain cancers 2-3x Conflicts 2-3x Infections 2-3x Mental health problems Shain & Kramer 2004

  26. Futility of Some Stress Research “One evening we had an almost inaudible talk from…..the BBC staff doctor who told us how to recognise stress in our staff: the body sits slumped, with the head shrunk between the shoulders. At least I think that is what he said. He was difficult to hear as we were all sitting slumped with our heads shrunk between our shoulders” Frank Muir in A Kentish Lad

  27. Responses to Stress • Physiological changes • Heart rate • Blood pressure • Biochemical • > adrenaline > cortisol > serotonin > free histamine Psychological changes Anxiety Depression Tension Tired Worry Apathy Apprehension Alienation Resentment Confidence Aggression Withdrawal Restlessness Indecision Sleeping problems Concentration

  28. Legal Aspects “Personal Injury” Any impairment or any disease of a person’s physical or mental condition 1974 Health and Safety at Work Act “Assessments of risks of activities associated with potential hazards” 1992 Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations Big stress cases 1. Johnstone vs Bloomsbury H.A Doctor 2. Walker vs Northumberland C.C. Social Worker 3. Jones vs Birmingham C.C Teacher 4. Hurley vs Gwent Constabulary Police officer 5. Fearon vs Martin Burglar 6. Armstrong vs Home Office Prison warder

  29. High Profile Case 2 Isaac Blake VS Ragdoll Productions 2008 “Cold-blooded murder of English Justice” Tombliboo Homophobia , Bullying, Harassment Faulty animatronics - Painful work – hip joints Lost 4 / 5 claims Awarded £2000 for being called a “faggot” twice

  30. High Profile Case 3 Armstrong vs Home Office 1996 PO while west on remand Close escort duties 31 day trial Volunteered for escort Claims was forced to covertly gather evidence SA - stress and depression

  31. High Profile Case 4 Psychological interventions can work Cromwell Street Murders John Bennett SIO Team of 40 detectives Sought “Stress Counselling” Proactive Some accepted – others did not Upon retirement . . .

  32. What workers expect Financial Reasonable expectations? Achievable ? Affordable ? Advancement Status Respect Perks Education / Training Autonomy Flexibility Dissatisfied workforce? Aggrieved employees? Unmotivated staff ? Pensions Support Security

  33. Commuting “Cattle Truck Syndrome” Chronic health problems exacerbated by train travel? Cumulative impact theory Increased B.P, Anxiety, Chronic Heart Conditions Over-crowded trains / buses Straining public transport system Lack of control

  34. Commuting “People develop a constant internal anger on crowded trains that they cannot easily displace…an individual's immune system could also be suppressed by stress, making passengers more susceptible to illnesses”

  35. Long Working Hours “Workaholism” Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, UK (Karojisatsu) uninterrupted heavy workload • irregular sleep habits • decreases in rest • decrease social time • alcohol abuse • increased smoking • unhealthy diet • neglecting medical checks • breakdown in family life heavy physical work excessive demands from irregular overtime and shift work excessive workloads from emotional stress, such as responsibility, transfers, and conflicts

  36. Office Work “Veal – Fattening Crate” * “Small, cramped office workstations built of fabric covered disassemblable wall partitions and inhabited by junior staff members. Named after the small pre-slaughter cubicles used by the cattle industry” Douglas Coupland in Life After God (being ironic) *Do farm animals get better conditions than some workers?

  37. Stress “Golden Age of Stress” Everyone is Stressed BBCi - “Stress” = 16,000 finds More people experiencing more stress Greater demands from employers People working longer hours 24 / 7 / 365 society

  38. 21st Century Satanic Mills

  39. 21st Century Satanic Mills

  40. Psychosocial factors at the core of ill-health Individual vulnerability Personality type Experience Learned behaviours Stress Distress Somatics Will workers take responsibilityfor their ill-health? Recall ADT?

  41. Stress Definitions #1 A.Stress occurs when demands exist which are outside a person’s capacity for meeting those demands B.Stress is a response to the presence of psychosocial hazards in the workplace C.Stress is the reaction people have when they feel they cannot cope with the pressures or demands placed upon them Over-simplistic definitions !

  42. required STRESS! actual required actual required BORED actual Stress Definitions #2 Stress is the disparity between what needs to be done (required) and what can be done (actual) Problems demands are not static abilities are not static how to quantify disparity meaningfulness of any quantification individual modification

  43. So who has the “bad” jobs? EXTREMELY STRESSFUL Police Fire Ambulance Prison VERY STRESSFUL Civil pilots Media Performers Teaching Nursing Health care (non-emergency) Social work Mining Construction ABOVE AVERAGE STRESS Marketing Publishing Printing Retail Catering Transport HOW MUCH FAITH CAN BE PUT INTO BROAD CATEGORIES? Cooper 1988

  44. Don’t Mention the “S”-Word ! ! ! Stress Looks like a flaming deamon Sounds like an eagle squaking Tastes like a burnt sausage Smells like sour milk Feels like stroking a hedgchog Stress is when mum says NO!!!!! by Andrew (aged 10) Year 5 Potley Hill Primary School The curse of the Corpus Linguistic Common Parlance “Stress-Bunny” “Stress-Junkie”

  45. Stress is Nothing New World Wars I and II Where was stress? Dud shell manufacture

  46. performance stress Some Stress is good Keeps one alert Keeps one alive Evolutionary perspective: Too little stress = extinction Too much stress = extinction Balance stress = evolution Pressure is good - - Stress is bad

  47. Stress Statistics 1995: Labour Force Survey 515,000 reported work-related stress 250,000 attributions of physical symptoms 30% increase in reports since 1990 1996: Institute of Management 270,000 daily absences for stress £10.2 Billion cumulative annual cost (sick pay, lost production, treatment) 2002: UK Health and Safety Executive 265,000 new “cases” in 2001 2000: Evans et al.Scottish heart attack deaths higher on Mondays 2004: UK Health and Safety Executive 13,000,000 working days lost / year £12 Billion cost

  48. Admissions and World Cup 1998 • Examine hospital admissions for rangeof diagnoses on days surrounding England's 1998 World Cup footballmatches • Hospital admissions obtained fromEnglish hospital episodestatistics • Pop. Aged 15 – 64 years • Admissions for • Acute MI On match day • Stroke and 5 days after • Deliberate self harm match day • Road traffic injuries • Compared with admissions at the same time in 1997 and 1998 Carroll, D et al. 2002

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