Public-sector
employees are working under considerable stress and pressure to deliver
services to their communities, with nearly three-quarters saying their workload
has increased in the past year, according to a survey by the union Unison.
The
survey of more than 4,500 staff was one of the biggest of its kind ever carried
out by the union.
It
found 72 per cent said their workload and job pressure had increased in the
last year, with more than a third (36 per cent) reporting cuts in staff
numbers. At the same time more than half (53 per cent) said the public’s
expectations had increased.
Two-thirds
regularly worked extra hours at short notice, 63 per cent said they were not
well paid for the job they did – up from 58 per cent in a similar survey last
year and 11 per cent worked unpaid for more than four extra hours each week.
Unsurprisingly
perhaps, 32 per cent said that they were seriously thinking about leaving their
job. A total of 38 per cent said they felt less secure in their jobs than last
year, almost certainly a reflection of the growing threat to privatise council
services.
Three-quarters
of those surveyed were women and included social workers, home carers, school
meals staff, librarians, classroom assistants and administrative staff.
Unison’s
head of local government, Malcolm Wing, said: "Managers who are also
working under considerable pressure to deliver with shrinking budgets, and
staff shortages need better support."
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