Press Release: Workplace bullying rife in Scotland
Press Release from John MacDougall, MP for Glenrothes
(and mid-Fife)
Date of Release: 22nd January, 2008
Glenrothes MP supports Samaritan’s ‘Stress Down Day’
John MacDougall, MP for
Glenrothes has offered his full support to the Samaritans campaign
against workplace bullying. He said, “I worked for years in
the shipyards and in Fife Council and I know just how important
good working conditions are for people. There is no reason
why other members of staff should be allowed to bully
colleagues. This can take many forms, including workload and
the way people are spoken to. I ask that employers take this matter
seriously.”
Bullying in the UK is endemic and for 21% of Scottish workers it
is a weekly or even daily cause of stress. Over 80% of Scots have
been bullied during their careers and a quarter of people are so
stressed they dream of quitting for a life abroad.
Over 20% have taken time off sick due to work related stress, an
average 6 days, the same figure as people in the West Midlands and
the South West of England. Over half say their jobs are getting
more stressful and 32% feel work rules their lives.
These are the key findings of Samaritans’ survey for Stress Down
Day, taking place on Friday February 1st.
Samaritans Joe Ferns said, “Job related stress has a serious and
unrecognised impact on the health of the nation and the economy,
affecting concentration and efficiency. A 2005 CBI report suggests
that 13 million working days were lost to stress, depression and
anxiety, at a staggering cost of 3.7 billion to UK plc.
“Positive workplaces are a big factor in keeping everyone
emotionally healthy. There is not enough openness and that is what
Stress Down Day is all about; encouraging employers and employees
to speak out and discuss problems before they escalate.”
Over half of Scottish workers have seen colleagues cry over
pressure and 45% say their employers try to get as much work out of
them as they possibly can even when they see they are already very
stressed.
Almost three quarters of people feel unable to cope with distressed
colleagues and 34% say employers don’t take workplace stress
seriously, turning a blind eye to the problem. Nearly four fifths
of people are unable to approach anyone beyond their manager for
support and 12% have no one to talk to about work pressures.
Professor Cary Cooper of Lancaster University, an internationally
recognised expert in the field of workplace stress, said: “These
results really disturb me. Shouldn’t we be managing people by
reward and praise rather than by fault finding and bullying?
“We know that dealing with difficult people issues can be lonely
and frustrating. The message from Samaritans is that you are not
alone. Employees need more support from work colleagues and line
managers and everyone needs coping skills to help them deal with
everyday pressures.”
Samaritans is experienced in workplace issues and provides a 24
hour confidential support service by phone and email. The charity
also runs WorkLife, a training course to tackle stress in the
workplace and provide practical skills for managers and team
members. Log on to www.samaritans.org for more
information. A CD-ROM of the course is also available.
Samaritans surveyed 2,100 adults in the UK and 500 adults in the
Republic of Ireland, through nfpSynergy between the 12th and 30th
November 2007. Samaritans is encouraging people to wear their
slippers to work on Stress Down Day, to find out more about the day
and how to buy Samaritans’ exclusive monster slippers visit
www.stressdownday.org.
-ends-
Notes to editors
For further information or for interview requests with
Samaritans’ Joe Ferns or Professor Cary Cooper please contact
Samaritans’ press office: Claire Duncan on 0208 394 8345 or Kate
Redway 0208 394 8342.
Queries to: Scott Brady 01592 611157 (Office), 01592
873092 (Home)