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If you have collected surveys from enough people using the Healthy Work Survey<\/a>, you\u2019re probably wondering what to do about these results (beyond what the survey recommends).<\/p>\n While workers need their own personal resources<\/strong> to help them cope, we also provide information about the importance of working together to get organizational change. (See Healthy Work Tools for Individuals<\/a> to learn more.)<\/p>\n While many unions are already tackling issues affecting #healthy work, unions can be more effective in protecting their members\u2019 health and safety by working to reduce and prevent work stressors. Below we have some recommendations, tools and strategies to help make proposals to the employer about the best action to deal with work stressors and to lobby for new legislation or regulations to make work healthier.<\/p>\n Healthy Work Strategies<\/strong> include workplace research studies, programs, contract language, regulations and laws designed to reduce sources of stress at work (work stressors), and to make work and workers healthier. Each report below is a summary<\/strong> about how to improve the organization of work to reduce work stressors, such as:<\/p>\n Long work hours, bullying, sexual harassment, discrimination, threats of violence, understaffing, job insecurity, lack of supervisor or coworker support, work-family conflict, job demands, lack of job control, job strain, and \u201ceffort-reward imbalance\u201d.<\/p>\n The types of Healthy Work Strategies include: <\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_toggle title=”Labor-Management Contracts” admin_label=”Toggle – Labor-Management Contracts” module_class=”toggle-no-box” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]Unions have worked to reduce job stress through bargaining contracts. While many of the collective bargaining efforts have not been scientifically studied to determine their effectiveness, they are legal requirements and thus don\u2019t depend upon the level of cooperation of a particular manager or supervisor. These reports are based on news stories and reports from specific unions and\/or industry publications and illustrate effective efforts to improve the workplace.<\/p>\n Collective bargaining agreement (contract) designed to improve working conditions and reduce stressors for Rutgers University faculty, graduate and teaching assistants<\/a><\/p>\n Collective bargaining agreements (contracts) designed to improve working conditions and job security for Brown University dining services workers<\/a><\/p>\n Contract Language to Reduce Job Stress in Education & Healthcare (Summary)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n First collective bargaining agreement for airport workers and security officers at New York and New Jersey airports<\/a><\/p>\n Jim Beam workers achieve better work-life balance through new labor-management contract<\/a><\/p>\n New contract for Los Angeles teachers includes important features designed to reduce teachers\u2019 job stress<\/a><\/p>\n New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) contract with private hospitals in New York City focuses on improving safe nurse staffing levels<\/a><\/p>\n Reducing workplace bullying through a union-sponsored Respectful Workplace Policy and collective bargaining<\/a><\/p>\n SAG-AFTRA creates code of conduct to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace<\/a><\/p>\n Trade union actions to prevent psychosocial risks in healthcare (E.U.)<\/a><\/p>\n Work-life balance and trade unions<\/a><\/p>\n Hotel housekeepers face a\u00a0higher risk of injury<\/a>\u00a0than other hotel workers, in part due to high workload and pressure to clean hotel rooms quickly. In 1999, the hotel workers union in San Francisco, after documenting hazards faced by the housekeepers, was able to\u00a0bargain a contract<\/a>, reducing the quota for rooms cleaned in one day from 15 to 14<\/a>. Since then, hotel workers and their union (UNITE-HERE) have\u00a0bargained contracts<\/a>\u00a0on workload,\u00a0conducted research<\/a>,\u00a0educated workers and the public<\/a>, helped pass a\u00a0California regulation on preventing hotel housekeeper musculoskeletal injuries<\/a>, and also\u00a0campaigned against sexual harassment<\/a>\u00a0of hotel housekeepers. Find out more and\u00a0how you can help<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/p>\n Following a 28-day strike in 2010 at Temple Univ. Hospital, Philadelphia, workers<\/a> won voluntary 12-hour shifts and overtime, accrual of a sleep day after 16 hours. They rejected shorter minimum call times, and lower weekend and night shift differentials. This kind of contract improves exposure to long work hours and schedules that can affect sleep and reduces workload demands.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/p>\n Need some sample contract language?<\/strong><\/p>\n See\u00a0examples of contract language<\/a>\u00a0on job stress and on staffing in a variety of occupations from an excellent Labor and Occupational Health Program (LOHP) book on collective bargaining on occupational health and safety.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”Laws and Regulations” admin_label=”Toggle – Laws and Regulations” module_class=”toggle-no-box” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]Unions have also worked to reduce job stress by lobbying for laws and regulations. While many of these legislative efforts have not been scientifically studied to determine their effectiveness, they are legal requirements and thus don\u2019t depend upon the level of cooperation of a particular manager or supervisor. Laws and regulations also typically reach more people than the workplace-based programs that have been studied. These reports were based on news stories and reports from specific unions and\/or industry publications. Laws that have been passed or are pending which would reduce some work stressors include:<\/p>\n Government labor inspectors\u2019 role in protecting workers\u2019 mental health in Quebec<\/a><\/p>\n Job redesign and national labor protections have positive effects on worker health and the economy<\/a><\/p>\n Laws and regulation to prevent workplace violence in healthcare<\/a><\/p>\n Laws prohibiting mandatory overtime for nurses<\/a><\/p>\n Laws to improve nurse staffing levels in hospitals in the U.S.<\/a><\/p>\n Laws to prevent workplace sexual harassment<\/a><\/p>\n Legislation to prevent psychosocial risks in healthcare (E.U.)<\/a><\/p>\n Legislation to reduce job stress in education & healthcare (summary)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Panic Buttons: An intervention to prevent psychological trauma and physical assault among hotel housekeepers<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n State laws\u00a0banning mandatory overtime for nurses<\/a>, except in case of emergency.<\/p>\n Stress Check: A national policy in Japan for prevention of workplace stress<\/a><\/p>\n Work scheduling laws contribute to more stable employment<\/a><\/p>\n Workplace <\/a>b<\/a>ullying <\/a>p<\/a>revention <\/a>l<\/a>aws and <\/a>r<\/a>egulations<\/a><\/p>\n The Healthy Families Act<\/a> is currently in Congress and would allow workers to earn up to seven paid sick days a year. Creating a national paid sick leave standard would allow millions of Americans to earn the time necessary to recover from illnesses like the flu, access health care and take care of a sick family member.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/p>\n H.R. 5159<\/a>, is a bill in Congress that seeks to remedy \u201con-call scheduling\u201d nationally. Retail workers, food service workers, cleaners and many other occupations have irregular or \u201con-call\u201d schedules which play havoc with people\u2019s lives, like scheduling child care at a moment\u2019s notice, or finishing college courses. Success stories addressing these issues include: 1) San Francisco, which was the first city in the U.S. to pass a\u00a0Retail Worker Bill of Rights<\/a>\u00a0(in 2014), and 2) retail workers and others who came together in New York City and successfully\u00a0passed a law<\/a>\u00a0in 2017 that ends \u201con-call\u201d scheduling in the City.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/p>\n This Act<\/a> would allow the U.S. Department of Labor to authorize grants to states, local governments, and nonprofits to design new models to provide and implement \u201cportable benefits\u201d (retirement savings, workers compensation, life or disability insurance, sick leave, training or educational benefits, healthcare and more) for independent\/precarious workers such as contractors, temporary workers and self-employed workers, and would especially benefit low-wage precarious workers. This bill could help to alleviate some of the stressors related to being a precarious\/gig worker.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”Workplace Research Studies and Programs to Reduce Work Stressors” admin_label=”Toggle – Workplace Research Studies and Programs to Reduce Work Stressors” module_class=”toggle-no-box” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n These workplace research studies and programs, published in scientific journals, were selected because they were designed to reduce sources of stress at different workplaces in order to improve employee health (health promotion programs intended to change individual behaviors are not included). Many include a participatory \u201caction\u201d research focus, which means they involved workers, labor and management in a process that was intended to create positive change. These studies document the effects of workplace programs and policies and provide important details about the process of changing working conditions\u2014so that you can see if such a process might work in your workplace or industry.<\/p>\n Health Care<\/strong><\/p>\n Reducing work stress and improving the mental health of hospital workers (Quebec, Canada)<\/a><\/p>\n Manufacturing<\/strong><\/p>\n Job redesign at a sweets manufacturing company in England<\/a><\/p>\n Public Sector Workers<\/strong><\/p>\n Changing workplace policies and procedures reduced blood pressure among Quebec, Canada white-collar workers<\/a><\/p>\n Increasing job control and reducing other job stressors among call center workers in England<\/a><\/p>\n Redesigning the jobs of postal workers in Uppsala, Sweden<\/a><\/p>\n Supervisor Support and Work-life balance<\/strong><\/p>\n Improving employee safety, health, and well-being through improved team communication and work-family balance<\/a><\/p>\n Reducing work-family conflict through supervisor training on Family Supportive Supervisor Behaviors (FSSB)<\/a><\/p>\n Teachers\/Education<\/strong><\/p>\n Workplace policies and programs to reduce job stress among K-12 education staff (U.S.)<\/a><\/p>\n Transit Workers \u2013 bus drivers<\/strong><\/p>\n Action research intervention with urban bus drivers in Copenhagen, Denmark<\/a><\/p>\n Bathroom access for bus drivers in the US and Canada<\/a><\/p>\n Intervention to reduce job stress among urban bus drivers in Stockholm, Sweden<\/a><\/p>\n Preventing threats and violence against bus drivers<\/a><\/p>\n Programs and policies to reduce work stress among bus drivers in the United States and Canada<\/a><\/p>\n Workplace bullying\/discrimination\/violence<\/strong><\/p>\n A training program for workers and managers on reducing male bullying and workplace violence (U.S.)<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text – If you are interested in learning about reducing COVID-19-related work stressors” _builder_version=”4.19.4″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n If you are interested in learning about “reducing COVID-19-related work stressors”, visit our <\/span>Healthy Work Strategies page<\/span><\/a> for more info.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_toggle title=”Organizations* that Promote Healthy Work” admin_label=”Toggle – Organizations* that Promote Healthy Work” module_class=”toggle-no-box” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ hover_enabled=”0″ z_index_tablet=”500″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n For more information, guidance and strategies for effective work organization change, check out:<\/strong><\/p>\n A Better Balance<\/a>\u00a0is an organization that \u201cseeks to reduce the stress of conflicting work-family demands and responsibilities, as well as end discrimination against workers (most of whom are women) who care for their children or other family members.\u201d They pursue campaigns to strengthen legal protections and to advance policies that provide paid leave, paid sick time, fair and flexible work, workplace equality (including gender equity), pregnant worker fairness and\u00a0breastfeeding support at work<\/a>. They offer you resources and information on these issues and\u00a0your rights<\/a>\u00a0at work.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/p>\n Coalition for Restaurant Safety and Health<\/a>\u00a0(CRSH) is a Philadelphia-based coalition that helps restaurant workers and owners identify and prevent sexual harassment. Although sexual harassment pervades the restaurant industry, restaurant workers often do not report it. They may think that their treatment comes with the job. They may fear retaliation for reporting, or they may believe that their employer won\u2019t do anything to address it. CRSH offers free trainings to restaurants to prevent sexual harassment and to promote respectful and safe workplaces in the restaurant industry.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/p>\n Family Values at Work<\/a>\u00a0(FV@W) grew out of the recognition that valuing caregiving and enabling people to be good providers and good family members is key to achieving racial, gender and economic equity. Labor Project for Working Families (LPWF), a long-standing initiative now working in partnership with FV@W, raises the visibility and engagement of labor unions in state FV@W coalitions. See their\u00a0resources and toolkit<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/p>\n Fight for $15<\/a>\u00a0is a movement that began in 2012 when 200 fast-food workers walked off the job to demand $15\/hr and union rights in New York City. Today, it is a global movement in hundreds of cities on six continents. It includes fast-food workers, home health aides, child care teachers, airport workers, adjunct professors, retail employees\u2014and underpaid workers everywhere. If you are struggling with low wages and making ends meet, find information, support or join the Fight for $15 movement. Even if you are not a low-wage worker, you can still help support the struggle for fair, living wages for all workers.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/p>\n The Hazards Campaign<\/a> is a UK-based network of resource centers and worker advocates supporting worker organizing and campaigning for justice and safety at work.<\/p>\n Their manifesto<\/a> suggests:<\/p>\n In order to achieve a health and safety system fit for workers at the heart of decent jobs and decent lives.<\/p>\n For their resources on stress and mental ill health in the workplace, visit here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/p>\n The International Labour Organization (ILO)<\/a>, a U.N. agency since 1919, brings together governments, employers and workers from 187 member states, to set labor standards, develop policies and devise programs promoting decent work for all women and men.<\/p>\n Stress Prevention at Work Checkpoints<\/a> is an app and a manual<\/a> designed for use by anyone interested in workplace stress prevention: national authorities, company and organizational managers, trade unions, human resource personnel, and occupational safety and health practitioners. The ILO SOLVE program<\/a> is also available to download. It is an interactive educational program designed to assist in the development of policy and action to address health promotion issues at the workplace. It deals with the prevention of work-related stressors (both workplace stress and economic stressors), alcohol and drug abuse, violence (both physical and psychological), the prevention of HIV\/AIDS, as well as the promotion of tobacco-free workplaces and health lifestyles, including good eating, sleeping and exercise habits. It includes guides for trainers and participants.<\/p>\n In January 2019, the ILO\u2019s Global Commission on the Future of Work released the report, \u201cA Human-Centered Agenda Needed for a Decent Future of Work.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n Among the ten recommendations are:<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/p>\n The National Council for Occupational Safety and Health<\/a>\u00a0(NCOSH) is a federation of local and statewide \u201cCOSH\u201d groups\u2014committees\/coalitions dedicated to advancing the rights of workers related to health and safety issues, regardless of their <\/span>immigration status<\/span><\/a>. COSH groups are typically non-profit organizations. You can\u00a0find a local COSH group<\/a>\u00a0near you or find information about\u00a0starting one<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/p>\n NIOSH<\/a> resources on Non Standard Work Arrangements<\/a>\u00a0include workers considered temporary, contingent, part-time, on-call, direct hire, agency, contract, app-based, on-demand, freelance, and gig workers. Independent contractors do not have a legal right to a safe workplace and are not legally eligible for workers\u2019 compensation benefits if they are injured on the job. Many non-standard, low-wage workers do not earn minimum wage. Studies have shown that non-standard workers are more likely to get injured on the job and are more likely to become ill compared to permanent workers which may be related to a lack of paid sick leave. OSHA and NIOSH have developed a joint guideline for employers of temporary workers (e.g. staffing agencies):\u00a0Recommended Practices for Protecting Temporary Workers<\/a>\u00a0and Cal OSHA has also produced a\u00a0Safety and Health Fact Sheet<\/a>\u00a0on this issue.<\/p>\n NIOSH r<\/a>esources on sleep, fatigue, shift-work and long hours<\/a>: A significant number of U.S. workers are exposed to health and safety risks associated with shift work, long work hours, and related workplace sleep and fatigue issues. If you are working in the aviation, transportation, and healthcare industries, are an emergency responder, or otherwise find yourself working long hours and night shifts, this can be particularly dangerous to your health and well-being. NIOSH has made available a\u00a0webinar series<\/a>\u00a0and other resources about how\u00a0shift work<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0long hours<\/a>\u00a0affect fatigue and sleep, as well as providing\u00a0training and resources for coping<\/a>\u00a0with them.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/p>\n This tool<\/a>\u00a0ranks states according to their wage policies (changes to federal minimum wage), worker protection policies (paid sick leave, pregnancy protections and equal pay), and right-to-organize policies. They also\u00a0show<\/a>\u00a0that there is a relationship between a state\u2019s ranking in the Best State to Work Index and positive economic and health indicators. The higher the index, the less infant mortality and poverty rates, and the higher the life expectancy, median income, GDP per capita, and labor force participation rates in that state.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/p>\n ROC United<\/a>\u00a0is the leading restaurant workers\u2019 rights advocacy organization in the country, representing thousands of people who work in restaurants, over 750 high-road employers, and thousands of engaged consumers united for raising restaurant industry standards. With the mission to improve wages and working conditions for the nation\u2019s restaurant workforce, they have also been a leader in addressing sexual harassment and discrimination in the restaurant industry.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/p>\n Workplace Bullying Institute<\/a>\u00a0(WBI) is an organization in the U.S. that has been offering comprehensive resources about workplace bullying\u2014for individuals who have been bullied and to organizations that want to address bullying in the workplace. WBI includes self-help advice for individuals, personal coaching, research, books, public education, union assistance, training for professionals, employer consulting, and legislative advocacy. In 2001, WBI launched the\u00a0Healthy Workplace Bill<\/a>, which has now been introduced in 31 states\/territories. If you feel you want to get involved in supporting this bill in your state,\u00a0see how you can help.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/p>\n A California-based organization (part of the\u00a0Healthy Work Strategies<\/h4>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\tHotel Housekeeper Study and Workload Reductions<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tThe Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tHealthy Families Act<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tSchedules That Work Act<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tPortable Benefits for Independent Workers Pilot Program Act<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tA Better Balance<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tCoalition for Restaurant Safety and Health<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tFamily Values at Work<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tFight for $15<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tHazards Campaign<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\tInternational Labor Organization (ILO)<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\tNational Council for Occupational Safety and Health<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tNational Institutes for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tOxfam America \u2013 Best and Worst State to Work in America index<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tRestaurant Opportunities Center United<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tWorkplace Bullying Institute<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tWorksafe<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t