CIRC 5: NEW INDEPENDENT SURVEY COMMISSIONED BY THE POA

In 2014 the NEC commissioned Professor Gail Kinman and Dr Andrew Clements from the University of Bedford, to survey the POA membership regarding Work Related Stress and Wellbeing.

The POA described the findings of this 2014 survey as “shocking!” The main findings of that review were;

• None of the benchmarks set by the UK Health and Safety Executive for the management of work-related stress were met.
• Levels of psychological wellbeing and job satisfaction were considerably poorer than those found in other “highly stressed” occupational groups.
• 84% of respondents indicated that they felt under pressure to come into work when they felt unwell.
• Disclosing work related stress and “failure to cope” was highly stigmatised in the sector and little support seemed to be available.
• 7 out of every 10 respondents to the survey regretted their choice of job.
• 60% were considering leaving the Prison Sector in the near future.
• POA members got considerably more support from colleagues than they did managers.
• 75% of the sample surveyed indicated that working after 60 years of age would impair their job performance “very much”.
• Less than 7% rated the quality of on the job training as very good or excellent.
• 57% considered this to be poor or very poor.

In December 2019 the NEC decided now was the time to revisit the important findings of the 2014 review and add the new findings to our ongoing campaigns on retirement age and violence in our prisons, hospitals and detention centres.

Details on how to access the new survey will be published shortly. Once they are and the survey is live the NEC encourage every member to take 20 minutes of your time to complete the survey and help us to help you!

Can I take this opportunity to thank all POA members from across the entire union for your support in what will form a central part of our ongoing campaigns.

Yours sincerely

JOE SIMPSON
Deputy General Secretary