News

Results – CPSU NSW workload survey at Australian Unity

To all members working at Australian Unity (AU) who completed the CPSU NSW workload survey – thank you.

In summary, survey respondents indicate

1. Classifications

• 60 per cent of respondents were Care Partners.
• Just under 10 per cent were Care Partner Leads.

2. Work Overload

• 100 per cent of respondents felt some sort of work overload which was split 50:50.
• Disturbingly 50 per cent of respondents felt overwhelmed and indicated the workload was completely unmanageable.
• 77 per cent regularly backfilled for absent colleagues with 95 per cent indicating significant/noticeable impact on their workload.

3. Working for free

• 72 per cent work beyond their contract hours.
• 72 per cent work up to 10 hours per week without any remuneration.
• 73 per cent feel some form of pressure to work outside their contracted hours to complete their work.
• 70 per cent feel their KPIs are the source of the pressure to work without any remuneration.
• 20per cent feel the source of pressure to work without any remuneration comes from their line manager.

4. Training

• 68 per cent training is not always sufficient and/or effective.
• 23 per cent training is insufficient and/or ineffective.
• 77 per cent state that the training does not suit their learning style.

5. Raising concerns and morale levels

• 55 per cent are not confident to raise concerns with their local management team.
• 60 per cent and 32 per cent do not feel supported by their management team occasionally/rarely respectively.
• 86 per cent feel their morale is either medium (up and down) or Low (poor)

What’s next?

CPSU NSW industrial staff and local workplace representatives met with AU management and discussed the survey results. Your feedback was anonymised and provided to AU for consideration.

CPSU NSW has consistently pushed for a review of workloads. We raised the recruitment freeze with AU management.

AU’s response was to the effect that it would be unfair to recruit new staff during a restructure process only to terminate employment once the permanent structure was determined.

The union acknowledges there is some validity to this response, however, some form of short-term solution needs to be identified and implemented given the survey clearly indicates low morale and associated workload pressures across the company.

CPSU NSW again raised relief and backfilling during planned and unplanned absences of your colleagues on leave. AU indicated that relief/backfilling is a concern they are aware of and will be addressing.

AU’s management advised at the meeting in very clear and concise language – AU does not expect staff to work for free. Management explicitly stated that AU has a ‘flexible work environment’ and there can be a little give and take.

CPSU NSW advises members that you should work to your contract. If work is excessive, formally seek paid overtime from your local manager. If paid overtime is declined, then don’t do the work. Let your local manager know you are strictly working to your contract, and you will not be working for free.

AU are presently considering the survey and CPSU NSW will continue discussions and advocate for members with management.

Anthony Wright Industrial Officer

Thomas Gao Organiser