Concerning Results From Workplace Culture Survey

A new survey by the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (CTU) reveals that less than a quarter of people rate their management as better than average.

Richard Wagstaff, CTU President, said the results of the Together 2020 work survey are concerning. The survey focused on workplace culture, with questions about bullying, management effectiveness and people’s comfort in raising health and safety issues.

“We’re concerned about the number of people who don’t feel able to report health and safety issues to their managers,” said Wagstaff. “We’ve had one in five people report that they don’t feel able to raise this issue. Safety at work is such a fundamental right that figure should be zero.”

“Additionally, having 40 per cent of the workforce concerned about their jobs being threatened by technology shows there is an urgent need to address the rapid changes happening to work and find ways to make sure people aren’t left behind.”

The report also shows high levels of workplace bullying, with 46 per cent stating bullying was an issue in the workplace.

The survey was completed by nearly 900 union and non-union working people and was conducted between 2–5 January this year.

Wagstaff added that the results reflect the changes in policy and economic settings.

“The more positive income and employment statistics of 2019 are translating into people feeling better off than they did a year ago, but right now it seems too many working people are still doing it tough, struggling to make ends meet and feeling undervalued at work,” said Wagstaff.

“The Government’s reinstatement of work rights that had been eroded by their predecessors has certainly contributed to giving people the ability to get a better deal at work. However, this is a fragile gain that needs to be locked in and strengthened through the introduction of Fair Pay Agreements.”