Category Archives: Mental Health

Bectu Assistant Editors Toolkit published

Bectu’s Post Production & Facilities Branch have published an Assistant Editor’s Toolkit, a new professional resource to support Editorial Trainees and Assistant Editors’ career development in the cutting room.It includes a Skills Guide – a comprehensive document to keep track … Continue reading

Posted in Film & TV industry data, Freelance working, Health & Safety, Long hours, Mental Health, Safe working practices, Skills & capacity, Trades Unions, Wellbeing, Work-life balance | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Theatre skills shortages at a ‘tipping point’

The Stage recently picked up on Bectu’s research around skills shortages in theatre [£], in which they quoted us saying that, unless long and unsocial working hours were addressed, the skills shortage in the industry would reach a “tipping point”. … Continue reading

Posted in Long hours, Mental Health, Theatre and Live Events data, Work-life balance | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Health and Safety research resources.

We are looking at doing some comparisons between different industries on the physical stress that applies to particular types of work (and ultimately, perhaps, with the industries covered by Bectu in comparison with other countries). One resource Karl Raw from … Continue reading

Posted in Health & Safety, Long hours, Mental Health, Safe working practices, Safe working standards, Wellbeing | Tagged | Leave a comment

Bectu mental health hub

This webpage on the Bectu site includes links to our campaign to give workers the right to switch off from work along with guidance on managing mental health and stress at work, along with some of the union’s work on … Continue reading

Posted in Bullying and Harassment, Health & Safety, Illness and disability, Mental Health, Wellbeing, Work-life balance | Tagged | Leave a comment

Update: CoViD health and safety guidance – links

Here are some use useful links that include the latest guidance. UK Government Reducing the spread of respiratory infections, including COVID-19, in the workplace – Guidance covering a range of settings, including what can be done to keep others safe. … Continue reading

Posted in Coronavirus, Coronavirus, Health & Safety, Mental Health, Safe working practices, Safe working standards | Leave a comment

Bectu Mental Health and Welbeing Policy published

This was an idea that came from Bectu members during the pandemic. We did a load of online sessions discussing different aspects of the question “what is wrong with ‘the freelance deal’?” and there was a repeated refrain saying “our … Continue reading

Posted in Feature film data, Film & TV industry data, Film & TV industry policy, Freelance working, Freelancer rights, Health & Safety, High End TV data, Long hours, Management, Mental Health, Safe working practices, Safe working standards, Wellbeing, Work-life balance | Tagged | Leave a comment

Looking Glass ’21 report

The Film and TV Charity have published their Looking Glass ’21 report. This is a follow-up from their research in 2019 into working conditions in the film and TV industry, and how these impact workers based on responses from more … Continue reading

Posted in Coronavirus, Film & TV industry data, Freelance working, Health & Safety, Long hours, Management, Mental Health, Skills & capacity, Wellbeing, Work-life balance | Tagged , | Leave a comment

What do employers need to do to retain talent?

It’s something of a recurring theme from the Pensions & Investment Research Consultants (PIRC), but all of the research (including their own work with Autonomy and Survation – [pdf]) point to a need to pay people better, treat them with … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, Employment, Employment Law and Rights, Long hours, Low pay, Management, Mental Health, Productivity, Wellbeing, Work-life balance | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Why ‘the freelance deal’ is a big deal – and not just for the workers concerned.

There’s a long read on this site about the ‘contingent production army’ that manages large parts of the entertainment industry. Thinking about this issue, and processing it has allowed me to get a clearer idea of what our grievances are … Continue reading

Posted in Bullying and Harassment, Disability equality, Employment, Employment Law and Rights, Employment status, Equality, Freelance working, Freelancer rights, Gender equality, Gig economy workers, Health & Safety, IR35, Long hours, Management, Mental Health, National Insurance Contributions (NICs), Occupational Health, Personal Service Companies, Productivity, Race equality, Tax, Theatre and Live Events data | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Updated version of theatre ’10 Principles’ supported by Bectu

Today, with Bectu’s support, SOLT and UK Theatre have released an updated version of their 10 Principles for creating safe and inclusive working spaces in the theatre industry, to help tackle bullying, harassment, and discrimination. Bectu have joined a number … Continue reading

Posted in Bectu Agreements, Bullying and Harassment, Equality, Health & Safety, Mental Health, Safe working standards, Sexual harassment, Theatre and Live Events data, Wellbeing, Work-life balance, Workplace conflict | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Surprising-yet-unsurprising news about people thinking of leaving their jobs

The most surprising-yet-unsurprising nugget here is that “…the majority of those considering quitting had been offered no incentives to stay by their employers.” 📰📰NEW STUDY: How to Solve the Labour Market Crisis by Raising Standards Labour shortages are a principal … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, Employment, Inflation, Long hours, Low pay, Mental Health, Pay & inflation, The working environment, Wellbeing, Work-life balance | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Bectu engagement with external Health & Safety structures

Our Health and Safety Committee has been inactive since the start of the pandemic (though this will change shortly) and Prospect have their NEC Health and Safety committee that continues under the stout stewardship of Chris Warburton. In the meantime, … Continue reading

Posted in Bullying and Harassment, Coronavirus, EU & Brexit, Film & TV industry data, Health & Safety, Long hours, Management, Mental Health, Occupational Health, Remote working, Safe working practices, Safe working standards, The working environment, Theatre and Live Events data, Trades Unions, Wellbeing, Work-life balance | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Protecting mental health in the workplace – TUC webinar

With the TUC’s Anna Kalsi alongside Peter Kelly, Senior Psychologist at the Health and Safety Executive, discussing what employers should be doing to prevent work-related stress and to protect the mental wellbeing of their employees. Details here. You can register … Continue reading

Posted in Mental Health, Trades Unions | Tagged | Leave a comment

Shift-working and disrupted patterns of rest – a research round-up

Thanks to Siobhan Wray, an Associate Professor in Organisational Behaviour at Lincoln University for a useful roundup of research resources on this, including…. A systematic review of shift work and nurses’ health: This – ‘Working Time Society consensus statements: Evidence-based … Continue reading

Posted in Film & TV industry policy, Long hours, Mental Health, Safe working practices, Wellbeing, Work-life balance | Tagged | Leave a comment

Eva Wiseman in The Observer

I thought I’d posted this earlier in the week but it seems I missed it. There’s a very good round-up of the many issues facing people working in film and TV from Eva Wiseman in The Observer. It draws heavily upon … Continue reading

Posted in Bectu Agreements, Bullying and Harassment, Equality, Freelance working, Health & Safety, Long hours, Major Motion Picture Agreement, Management, Mental Health, Safe working practices, Trades Unions, TV Drama Agreement, Wellbeing, Work-life balance, Workplace conflict | Tagged , | Leave a comment

IATSE go back into talks with AMPTP following overwhelming strike mandate

Following the overwhelming support given to a strike ballot, and a slew of pressure from Californian and New York politicos, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) are now headed back into talks with The Alliance of Motion Picture … Continue reading

Posted in Film & TV industry policy, Health & Safety, Long hours, Mental Health, Safe working practices, Safe working standards, Wellbeing, Work-life balance | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Bectu’s new virtual ‘bullying and harassment hub’ launched.

📣 Bectu's new virtual bullying and harassment hub launched 📣 It has new resources and the latest guidance and news on bullying and harssment at work. Explore it now 📲 💻 ⤵️ https://t.co/DQcK69SC3w — Bectu (@bectu) October 5, 2021

Posted in Bullying and Harassment, Long hours, Mental Health, Wellbeing, Workplace conflict | Leave a comment

Positive working environment “will lead to dramatic benefits for employers, employees, and the bottom line.”

Those bug-eyed Marxist fanatics over at the Harvard Business Review are making the case against aggressive management practices again: “…a large and growing body of research on positive organizational psychology demonstrates that not only is a cut-throat environment harmful to … Continue reading

Posted in Bullying and Harassment, Employment, Employment Law and Rights, Long hours, Mental Health, Productivity, Wellbeing, Workplace conflict, Workplaces | Leave a comment

Locked Down and Locked Out – impact of Covid pandemic on mothers working in UK TV sector

49% of respondents said they had been unable to accept work due to childcare related issues. Read the #LockedDownAndLockedOut report now on the impact of the pandemic on mothers in UK TV: https://t.co/37JAX9Djjz pic.twitter.com/JYKKUwZdK4 — Bectu (@bectu) September 9, 2021 … Continue reading

Posted in Coronavirus, Coronavirus, Equality, Film & TV industry policy, Freelance working, Freelancer rights, Gender equality, Health & Safety, Long hours, Management, Mental Health, Remote working, Wellbeing, Work-life balance | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Scotland to trial four-day week

….but without a loss of pay. More on the BBC website.

Posted in Employment Law and Rights, Long hours, Mental Health, Productivity, Wellbeing | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Post-lockdown mental health concerns among theatre workers

From The Stage [£]: “Half of backstage workers are considering leaving their career and more than two thirds do not think that employers have put adequate mental health support in place for their post-Covid return to work, according to a … Continue reading

Posted in Bullying and Harassment, Disability equality, Freelance working, Gig economy workers, Health & Safety, Illness and disability, Management, Mental Health, Theatre and Live Events data, Wellbeing, Workplace conflict | Tagged | Leave a comment

Best places to work in TV?

Broadcast does an awards thing – here. Looking after staff’s mental health, creating the right work-life balance, & making sure staff are treated fairly in terms of inclusivity and diversity are just some attributes that make up the best workplace. … Continue reading

Posted in Long hours, Mental Health, Safe working practices, Safe working standards, Wellbeing, Work-life balance, Workplace conflict, Workplaces | Tagged , | Leave a comment

5 Ways to Recognise Employee Burnout

From the Bectu website… ICYMI workers in the creative industries are highly susceptible to burnout due to precarious working and long hours culture. In a #ThursdayThoughts blog, Meghan Taylor from the Writers Guild shares '5 Ways to Recognise Employee Burnout' … Continue reading

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Bectu Intimacy Co-ordinators events

Our @BectuIntimacy branch is hosting a series of summer talks this weekend open to everyone on the amazing work they do to ensure wellbeing and consent on set. Thread below with all the details and links… ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/XHIfaP2dYN — Bectu … Continue reading

Posted in Mental Health, Recruitment and organising, Trades Unions, Wellbeing, Workplace conflict | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Alcoholic liver deaths increased by 21% during year of the pandemic

Public Health England (PHE) has today published the trends in alcohol consumption and harm since the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The findings show an increase in total alcohol-specific deaths, driven by an unprecedented annual increase in alcoholic liver … Continue reading

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File of Four (BBC Radio 4) bullying survey details.

BBC bullying survey (as featured in the recent File on Four programme). This is a survey that was promoted by Bectu in June 2021. Details of the results are below (raw data is the property of the BBC and can … Continue reading

Posted in BBC, Bullying and Harassment, Equality, Film & TV industry policy, Management, Mental Health, Safe working practices, Sexual harassment, Wellbeing, Whistleblowing, Workplace conflict | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Some wellbeing resources

My thanks to Adeel Amini of TV Mindset for sharing these resources. TV Mindset talks – wellbeing: The Science of Wellbeing – Practical Tips for Freelancers: “Stress Less” Session: Understanding Your Value in an Uncertain World: How To Deal With … Continue reading

Posted in Coronavirus, Disability equality, Equality, Freelance working, Illness and disability, Mental Health, Wellbeing, Workplace conflict | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

6ft From The Spotlight

6ft From the Spotlight is a non profit Community Interest Company set up to improving the mental wellbeing of music and film crew in the UK. Founder Matt Longley has posted on the Bectu blog here: “In the film and … Continue reading

Posted in Bullying and Harassment, Film & TV industry policy, Freelance working, Long hours, Mental Health, Sexual harassment, Workplace conflict | Tagged | Leave a comment

Treatment of young workers in TV

There’s a strong article on the Royal Television Society’s website here about the treatment of young workers in the TV sector. “I interviewed a mix of male and female professionals, spread across different TV genres, in production and post-production roles, … Continue reading

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Rising demand for mental health support

According to a poll from Employee Benefits, demand for mental health support from employees has risen significantly during the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, according to the latest Employee Benefits poll. The research found that 80% of organisations had seen an increase … Continue reading

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Bullying and harassment initiatives in film & TV

Here’s a current list of initiatives: BFI / Bafta Bullying, Harassment and Racism Prevention – principles and guidance:  – Variety reporting on this issue here. Televisual reporting on it here. Deadline reporting here. Screenskills reporting here. Hollywood Reporter reporting here. … Continue reading

Posted in Bullying and Harassment, Film & TV industry policy, Mental Health, Sexual harassment, Workplace conflict | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Mental Health – webinar, web-resources and blogpost

The 10th-16th May marks Mental Health Awareness Week. The Bectu website has a Mental Health Hub and Head of Bectu, Philippa Childs has a blog-post on the subject here.

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