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GIVE US
A
BREAK!!
5
October 2009
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This October
long weekend
is for
Labour Day -
so while it
may seem
unusual that
work issues
are being
marked by SA
Unions with
a family fun
day at the
races, it
actually
highlights a
serious
issue, that
of work-life
balance.
SA Unions
Secretary,
Janet Giles
says the
hard fought
ideal of 8
hours work,
8 hours
sleep, 8
hours play
is being
alarmingly
eroded.
"We pride
ourselves on
our string
work ethic,
but evidence
shows that
longer hours
of hard slog
actually
make us less
productive
and this is
having a
flow on
effect
economically
and
socially."
"We've
fought for
leisure
time, yet
we're not
taking it.
Australian
workers have
accrued an
astonishing
123 million
days of
annual
leave, worth
over $33
billion.
This is an
enormous
financial
liability
for
companies",
Ms Giles
says.
"It
also creates
other
challenges.
Overworked
employees
risk their
health, have
reduced
productivity
and lower
motivation."
"The ABS
reports that
58% of two
parent
working
families
were forced
to work
extra hours,
at night and
on weekends
to get their
work done -
more so
during these
financially
uncertain
times when
they can't
afford to
lose their
job -
despite the
extra hours
often being
unpaid."
"More than a
million
Australians
report they
regularly
work over 50
hours a
week.
Little
wonder
stress is on
the rise,
taking its
toll on
productivity
as well as
family
life."
"It's time
that we take
a break, or
we risk
breaking
down", Ms
Giles says.
SA Unions
has teamed
up with
SafeWork SA
to highlight
the impact
of low or no
leave on
productivity
and health.
A strategy's
been
developed
including a
draft Code
of Practice
on working
hours.
Strategy
Manager,
Michelle
Hogan says
she hopes
the Code
will be
included in
Occupational
Health and
Safety
Legislation
by early
next year.
"Fatigue is
a serious
issue for
many
workplaces
and often
goes
unreported.
We hear of
workers who
arrive home
after a
double shift
and can't
remember the
drive and
wonder
whether they
went through
a red light.
Exhaustion
can be just
as dangerous
as
drinking",
Ms Hogan
says.
"It seems
the message
is starting
to get
through -
and
awareness is
growing of
the need to
balance work
and life.
Even the
tourism
industry has
picked it up
in their
"work/life
battle"
campaign
with the
slogan "no
leave, no
life"
sending
employers
the clear
message that
stockpiled
leave is
unhealthy
for
business."
Ms Giles is
urging all
South
Australians
to actually
relax over
the long
weekend.
"Labour Day
is the
perfect time
to
acknowledge
that leave
is not a
luxury, but
a
necessity."
"That's why
I'll be
spending
Monday at
the race at
Morphettville
with my
family and
friends,
because all
work and no
play isn't
just dull,
it's
dangerous",
Ms Giles
says.
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Community Meetings:
Regular community meetings are being held in the areas of Makin, Wakefield or Kingston. Come along, bring your friends and family to discuss issues facing workers today.
Contact SA Unions for the dates of the next meetings
saunions@saunions.org.au
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