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Recent Posts
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- Paul Evans on Applying for a Lorimer Letter (LP10)
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- Demand for UK studio space v Netflix subscriber drop | Bectu Freelance Research on Is UK audiovisual content about to hit a perfect storm?
- How inflation is affecting individual households | Bectu Freelance Research on Getting the current cost-of-living crisis in perspective
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Category Archives: Wellbeing
Bectu ‘Live to Work’ campaign launched
Bectu has launched the Live to Work campaign aimed at improving terms and conditions in the UK TV drama industry. You can visit the campaign page here and join the network (open to members and non-members), download images to use … Continue reading
Fatigue in the TV and film industy
There’s a useful summary of this issue on the IOSH magazine website here. It’s got a lot of the kind of thing you’d expect (including a quote from our own Spencer MacDonald). And this: “Research says that when an employee … Continue reading
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 Bectu Mental Health and Welbeing Policy
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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
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 Job retention, PIRC
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HSE ‘Working Minds’ campaign launch
The UK Health and Safety Executive has launched a campaign website called ‘Working Minds‘ designed to provoke “….a culture change across Britain’s workplaces where recognising and responding to the signs of stress becomes as routine as managing workplace safety.” “Work-related … Continue reading
BEIS consultation on flexible working
The BEIS is currently consulting on flexible working – “Making Flexible Working the Default” – here [pdf]. “This consultation includes a set of proposals which are built around the principle that working arrangements are best decided through a constructive, open-minded … Continue reading
Natasha’s Law – UK Food Labelling Resource
You will probably have noticed the fact that there has been a change in legislation relating to the responsibilities caterers face on food labelling, specifically relating to allergies. The new food labelling legislation in the UK such as the UK … Continue reading
Rust – Armoury in the spotlight
I’ve avoided posting things that speculate about the incident that led to the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of “Rust” because waiting for the outcome of official inquiries is usually the right thing to do in circumstances … Continue reading
Posted in Long hours, Safe working practices, Wellbeing
Tagged Armoury, Guns, Halyna Hutchins, JIGS
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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 Autonomy, PIRC
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General sense of wellbeing fell during the pandemic
The latest in a type of report that is best filed under “probably interesting in the long run, but hopelessly distorted by the pandemic” is the latest report from the ONS on levels of wellbeing and happiness in the UK … Continue reading
Comprehensive European figures on women’s representation in TV drama
Women still under-represented in the #TVfiction industry in Europe🚺Find out more in our report ➡ https://t.co/hjdMgTDNP4 #womeninfilm #diversitymatters #womendirectors #genderequity pic.twitter.com/hqMu7fHIw6 — Europ AV Observatory (@EuAvObservatory) October 20, 2021 The key insights contained in the report are that, beyond obvious … Continue reading
BBC Studios Appoints Tom Fussell as CEO
As reported in Variety. “Fussell will oversee BBC Studio’s “ambitious” plans for global expansion, its focus on employee engagement and wellbeing as well as diversity, inclusion and sustainability.”
Posted in BBC, Diversity of representation, Environment & Sustainability, Wellbeing
Tagged BBC Studios, Tom Fussell
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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
Highway Code updated – new penalties for being too tired to drive
Every UK driver could face ‘unlimited fines’ under new sleeping law. (Manchester Evening News) This should be of interest to all Bectu members working in production, as well as being useful evidence in support of the campaign we are running … Continue reading
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
Women more likely to leave the Theatre sector post-pandemic
A survey [pdf], earlier this year, by Parents and Carers in the Performing Arts (PIPA) highlights a survey it did of members, which showed that 43% of parents or carers were considering abandoning their career because of the pandemic. The … Continue reading
Long hours working in film and TV – landmark article
I’ve just stumbled on a 2012 article by Gavin Polone that I read while writing the Eyes Half Shut report – one that (for reasons that escape me – probably an oversight) I didn’t reference at the time. The Unglamorous, … Continue reading
£1.2m annual Netflix training ‘war chest’ and other scripted TV training developments
As referenced in the Guardian article a few days ago, here’s more detail on this Netflix training budget, from Broadcast [£]. Quoting ex-Production Guild chief Alison Small (now working directly for ‘Grow Creative UK’ / Netflix) on training: “If we … Continue reading
Benefits of collective bargaining – more paid holiday
From an ETUC (European TUC) press release: “Workers who benefit from collective bargaining enjoy up to two weeks extra paid holiday per year, an analysis of EU data for the ETUC has found as millions prepare to return to work … Continue reading
Posted in Employment Law and Rights, Long hours, Wellbeing, Work-life balance
Tagged Holiday pay
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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 Four day week, Scotland
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Mental health and Covid19
There are many barometers of mental health that can be correlated with what is happening in the wider world, so it would not be appropriate to conclude that “the lockdown has generally, on balance, been good for the mental health … Continue reading
Posted in Coronavirus, Coronavirus, Remote working, Wellbeing, Work-life balance
Tagged Hybrid working, Mental health, Suicide, Wellbeing, Working from home
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44% of British employees want some form of hybrid working
Via Labour Research’s ‘Fact Service’, 44% of British employees want some form of hybrid working. From the Employee Benefits website… “The Health wealth and happiness study conducted by insurance business LifeSearch asked people about their ideal working set up. It … Continue reading
Posted in Remote working, Wellbeing, Work-life balance
Tagged Hybrid working, Working from home
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Sir Roger Deakins and others confront Hollywood over cinematographers’ long workdays
From the British Cinematographer website: “Hollywood cinematographers have signed a letter urging the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) to address “the hazards of unsafe working hours” that have plagued the industry for decades.” Quoting from the Deadline … Continue reading
Posted in Long hours, Safe working practices, Wellbeing, Work-life balance
Tagged AMPTP, IATSE
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The Freelance Deal: 1. Employment Rights, Tax and Pensions
This is the first draft of the policy document that has been agreed by the Tax, Employment Rights and Pensions Working Group of London Production Division (LPD) on the 7th May 2020. It is a contribution to Bectu’s proposed ‘New … Continue reading
Posted in Employment Contracts, Employment Law and Rights, Employment status, Freelance working, Freelancer rights, Gig economy workers, IR35, Long hours, Management, Pensions, Personal Service Companies, Skills & capacity, Tax, Welfare and benefits, Wellbeing, Work-life balance
Tagged The Freelance Deal
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Iceland – shorter working week does not damage productivity
Forbes is reporting on a recent study (June 2021) of 2,500 workers in Iceland—more than 1% of the workforce—was conducted to see if shortened workdays lead to more productivity and a happier workforce. Autonomy’s summary of the results are that…. … Continue reading
Posted in Long hours, Management, Remote working, Wellbeing, Work-life balance, Workplaces
Tagged Hybrid working, Long hours working
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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