Workplace stress, bullying an a harassment, top the list of
Sky staff concerns according to a recent survey. Call centre staff,
engineers and colleagues in Osterley are united in calling for
more effective management of these issues to minimise their incidence
in the workplace in the interests of staff wellbeing and performance.
In a reply card quesionnaire conducted by BECTU in
December staff where invited to highlight the issues
which concerned them most.
"It is interesing how across all three areas staff
share concerns about workplace stress and bullying and
point to poor investment in management and constant
changes in demands on staff as the cause of these
problems" commented BECTU's Sharon Elliott.
Looking to business specific concerns Sky Achievers -
the performance related pay scheme in operation at
the call centres came in for greatest criticism due
to the lack of transparency associated with the scheme.
Organising official Margaret McGrevey, who works
closely with call centre workers, said "staff are critical
of the scheme as whilst they contribute to the company's
success in exceeding its targets few staff believe that
Sky Achievers is actually being used to reward good parformance".
There have been reports that managers have been
instructed to mark people down and cases where
despite a top rating of "Expert", no increase in
pay has resulted.
At Osterley long held grievances over the lack of a
recognised pay and grading system continue to frustrate
staff. Over a third of respondents at Osterley also
registered their concerns about rostering and workilife
balance. "There is a widely held view, particularly amongst
oparations staff, that the company could improve its rostering
system to be more sensitive to staff needs without
compromising efftciency" said Sharon Elliott.
The survey was conducted to help the union
Identify campaigning issues for 2004. The union aims
to offer assistance to reps and staff to help them
to press their agende for change locally.
Previously, when Sky management have been approached
to set up a policy on Bullying and Harassment they have
denied that there is a need. Clearly Sky staff think differently.
"We in BECTU are keen that Sky should have appropriate
policies in place to deal with the range of staff issues
which affect UK Industry as a whole; Bullying and Harassment
is one such workplace issue and we hope that Sky will take
seriously staff's request for clear guidance", confirmed Sharon Elliott.
On health and safety in general, BECTU reps In Scotland and at
Osterley have been doing their best to ensure that staff concerns
are heard. Craig Kirkwood, BECTU rep' at Sky Dunfermline has approached
management on a number of issues affecting staff in the canteen
and in customer services with some success. In Scotand at least
there are signs that some management are prepared to listen and
respond to genuine concerns.
At Osterley BECTU has been working closely with
the HSE which is now assisting site management to
meet their legal obligations in a number of areas.
An initial site visit in October was followed by
a comprehensive report to the company detailing
several areas of weakness in their management of
health and safety and calling for action. A follow
up HSE visit is expected in March which is set to
include a meeting with the site's staff forum.
Marking Your Card! - thank you to those staff members who
supported the survey and congratulations to the two prize draw
winners who both received a cheque for £50.00 last month.
