Category Archives: Workplace conflict

“Emotional Tax” of being on guard against racial bias

Bectu works in sectors of the economy that are all suffering skills shortages which are, in turn, exacerbated by retention problems. With this in mind, this research is particularly interesting. Summarising it, the LSE blog says… “Being on high alert … Continue reading

Posted in Bullying and Harassment, Diversity of representation, Gender representation, Management, Race equality, Skills & capacity, Workplace conflict | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

HSE guidance on work-related violence

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) defines work-related violence as: Any incident in which a person is abused, threatened or assaulted in circumstances relating to their work This can include verbal abuse or threats as well as physical attacks. These … Continue reading

Posted in Bullying and Harassment, Health & Safety, Safe working practices, Safe working standards, Wellbeing, Workplace conflict | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Group decision-making – a guide

Just a bookmark for now – a way of deciding how to make a group decision, and an outline of how and when particular ways of making decisions can work and when they don’t.

Posted in Organising Skills, Recruitment and organising, Workplace conflict | 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

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

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

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

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

DNEG to pay overtime

A major UK VFX facility has finally broken ranks and agreed to pay overtime rates for all work recorded over 40 hours in a week. “Beginning in October, we will pay overtime at 1.5x rate for any incremental time that … Continue reading

Posted in Employment Contracts, Long hours, Recruitment and organising, Trades Unions, Work-life balance, Workplace conflict | 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

Handling difficult and divisive issues

In recent months, a number of difficult and divisive issues have hit the headlines and have found some echoes in many workplaces. The More in Common ‘Dousing the Flames‘ report has (via focus group research) found a different story. “Rather … Continue reading

Posted in Equality, Management, Workplace conflict | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

New duty to curb sexual harassment

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

Posted in Sexual harassment, Wellbeing, Workplace conflict | Tagged , | Leave a comment

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

Workers reject the idea of a four-day week on lower pay

A new report from The Social Market Foundation (SMF) entitled A question of time [PDF] explores the question of the four day week. The key findings (from the exec summary) are that… Most workers – 80% – would not favour … Continue reading

Posted in Bectu Agreements, Freelance working, Freelancer rights, Long hours, Major Motion Picture Agreement, Management, Pay & inflation, Productivity, TV Drama Agreement, Wages and Pay-rates, Workplace conflict | Tagged , | Leave a comment

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

Why no contracts can be an advantage in gig worker organising

Over on Brave New Europe, Robert Ovetz argues that the lack of contractual rules governing platform workers could actually be an advantage for organised gig workers, who are increasingly relying on maximum disruption of the capital accumulation process.

Posted in Freelance working, Freelancer rights, Gig economy workers, Organising Skills, Recruitment and organising, Workplace conflict | 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

Masks and R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

Claire Lawrence with a good post on the importance of respect when the legal underpinning for mask-wearing has gone. “In the UK, from 19th July, most of the laws requiring mask use and social distancing will be removed and so … Continue reading

Posted in Coronavirus, Coronavirus, 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

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

Gender-based violence facilitated by social media

Technology facilitated gender-based violence targets women with high visibility or public presence. Report [pdf]

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Return to the office working

There really is going to be a row about this… everywhere. Don’t make me go back to hard pants five days a week https://t.co/yMIIiIbojr | opinion — Financial Times (@FT) June 6, 2021 White collar workers are much more able … Continue reading

Posted in Coronavirus, Remote working, Workplace conflict, Workplaces | Tagged | Leave a comment

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

Estimating the cost of workplace conflict – Acas report

Acas has published a report estimating the costs of workplace conflicts. Their executive summary says that there are 3 strong messages to take from it.

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