Workers stretched to limit: ACTU survey
Workers in Australia are being pushed to perform unpaid overtime and allow work to intrude into their home life according to a massive survey of 42,000 people.
The Working Australia Census was carried out by the Australian Council of Trade Unions and is the largest of its kind.
ACTU President Ged Kearney says the survey has revealed a ‘productivity squeeze’ where employers achieve productivity gains via unpaid work and increased pressure on employees.
She says that while the workplace has become less physically demanding new working hours had made work much more stressful.
“Work is bleeding into the rest of a worker’s life, and we do not have the means of recognising or dealing with this in a way that suits workers,” Ms Kearney says.
Ms Kearney claims workers feel more stressed and less secure particularly those in casual positions who fear that saying ‘no’ will cost them their jobs.
“Business is shifting more and more financial risk and responsibility onto the workforce. We have a ‘productivity squeeze’, which means that we are achieving productivity through unpaid work and greater pressure on workers.”
“The Census shows …the 38 hour week is often an aspiration, not a reality, while the idea of working overtime means longer hours for no extra pay.”
Other highlights of the survey include:
73 per cent of respondents claim to be regularly contacted by their employer outside work hours.
61 per cent of those surveyed work more hours than they are paid for.
47 per cent receive no compensation for unpaid hours.
58 per cent have paid for work-related expenses without being reimbursed.
22.3 per cent nominated job security as their top concern.
14.3 per cent of employed respondents were in some form of non-permanent work.
16.5 per cent had accepted non-permanent part time work only because they could not find permanent work.
Ms Kearney spoke about the results at the National Press Club today telling media that employers were wrong to blame the Labour Government’s Fair Work system for its woes when in reality employees were working longer and harder than ever before.
The union boss also told ABC Radio that the ACTU would fight “tooth and nail” against any attempt to move back to a Work Choices system.
The warning comes after the Productivity Commission released a report that included proposals to help the retail sector by cutting wages and conditions.
