Category Archives: Wellbeing

Bectu enagement with external Health & Safety structures

Posted on October 26, 2021 by Paul Evans

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

General sense of wellbeing fell during the pandemic

Posted on October 21, 2021 by Paul Evans

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 →

Posted in Coronavirus, Coronavirus, Wellbeing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Comprehensive European figures on women’s representation in TV drama

Posted on October 21, 2021 by Paul Evans

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 →

Posted in Diversity of representation, Equality, Film & TV industry data, Gender equality, Gender representation, High End TV data, Management, Skills & capacity, Wellbeing, Work-life balance | Tagged , | Leave a comment

BBC Studios Appoints Tom Fussell as CEO

Posted on October 14, 2021 by Paul Evans

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 , | Leave a comment

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

Posted on October 11, 2021 by Paul Evans

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

Posted on October 6, 2021 by Paul Evans

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

Highway Code updated – new penalties for being too tired to drive

Posted on October 6, 2021 by Paul Evans

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 →

Posted in Bectu Agreements, Long hours, Major Motion Picture Agreement, Safe working practices, Trades Unions, TV Drama Agreement, Wellbeing, Work-life balance | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

IATSE go back into talks with AMPTP following overwhelming strike mandate

Posted on October 5, 2021 by Paul Evans

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.

Posted on October 5, 2021 by Paul Evans

📣 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.”

Posted on October 4, 2021 by Paul Evans

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

Women more likely to leave the Theatre sector post-pandemic

Posted on September 23, 2021 by Paul Evans

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 →

Posted in Coronavirus, Disability equality, Equality, Family rights, Gender equality, Theatre and Live Events data, Wellbeing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Long hours working in film and TV – landmark article

Posted on September 17, 2021 by Paul Evans

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 →

Posted in Health & Safety, Long hours, Management, Wellbeing, Work-life balance, Workplace conflict | Tagged , | Leave a comment

£1.2m annual Netflix training ‘war chest’ and other scripted TV training developments

Posted on September 16, 2021 by Paul Evans

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 →

Posted in Film & TV industry data, High End TV data, Management, Skills & capacity, SVoD, Wellbeing, Work-life balance | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

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

Posted on September 10, 2021 by Paul Evans

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

Benefits of collective bargaining – more paid holiday

Posted on September 2, 2021 by Paul Evans

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 | Leave a comment

Scotland to trial four-day week

Posted on September 2, 2021 by Paul Evans

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

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Mental health and Covid19

Posted on September 2, 2021 by Paul Evans

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 , , , , | Leave a comment

Post-lockdown mental health concerns among theatre workers

Posted on September 1, 2021 by Paul Evans

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

44% of British employees want some form of hybrid working

Posted on August 26, 2021 by Paul Evans

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 →

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Sir Roger Deakins and others confront Hollywood over cinematographers’ long workdays

Posted on August 26, 2021 by Paul Evans

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 →

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The Freelance Deal: 1. Employment Rights, Tax and Pensions

Posted on August 24, 2021 by Paul Evans

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 | Leave a comment

Iceland – shorter working week does not damage productivity

Posted on August 23, 2021 by Paul Evans

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 , | Leave a comment

Best places to work in TV?

Posted on August 13, 2021 by Paul Evans

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

More on the non-commute dividend

Posted on August 2, 2021 by Paul Evans

There’s a useful piece in the FT [£] about how losing the commute is increasing social capital for workers here along with the reset it is causing for the allocation of domestic duties (admittedly, the article tends to focus on … Continue reading →

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5 Ways to Recognise Employee Burnout

Posted on July 29, 2021 by Paul Evans

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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Long hours working and social isolation

Posted on July 23, 2021 by Paul Evans

From Simon Kupar in the FT [£]: “Commuting worsened the decay of civic life, observed political scientist Robert Putnam in Bowling Alone, his 2000 classic about the US. Ever fewer Americans knew their neighbours, worked as a volunteer or went … Continue reading →

Posted in Long hours, Wellbeing, Work-life balance | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

New duty to curb sexual harassment

Posted on July 22, 2021 by Paul Evans

The TUC is reporting that the government have committed to introduce a new duty on employers to protect all their staff from sexual harassment at work, and to protect workers harassed by clients or customers as well as colleagues As … Continue reading →

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The Creative Workforce Pledge

Posted on July 21, 2021 by Paul Evans

The Creative Workforce Pledge was a campaign to target candidates who were standing to be Metro Mayors in May 2021, to call on them to “stand up for the creative workforce, to nurture local talent and invest in culture for … Continue reading →

Posted in Freelance working, Freelancer rights, Wellbeing | Tagged | Leave a comment

Bectu Intimacy Co-ordinators events

Posted on July 16, 2021 by Paul Evans

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

Posted on July 16, 2021 by Paul Evans

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 →

Posted in Mental Health, Wellbeing | Tagged | Leave a comment

Raising Films

Posted on July 9, 2021 by Paul Evans

Raising Films is an organisation with a mission to support, promote and campaign for parents and carers in the UK screen sector. It calls on the UK screen sector to recognise the value of its parent and carer members and … Continue reading →

Posted in Coronavirus, Equality, Family rights, Gender representation, Wellbeing | Tagged | Leave a comment

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

Posted on July 9, 2021 by Paul Evans

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

Posted on July 9, 2021 by Paul Evans

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