Recognizing Problems With Regard To Hot-Desking.

Back to all Motions

Conference
2013 Energy Service Group Conference
Date
26 February 2013
Decision
Carried as Amended

As Energy Companies strive to maximise their profits, we note with concern the use of ‘’hot-desking’’ as an Employer tool to avoid investment in work space.

This is particularly true of call centre operations where staff is accommodated on a first come first served basis. However the use of hot desking is now more widespread and affects large number of our members who are forced to desk share simply to avoid unnecessary additional business costs.

Hot desking has two distinct disadvantages. Firstly there is a health and safety issue where staff work in close contact with their colleagues often resulting in an uptake of airborne related illnesses. Secondly the denial of quality personal space has an adverse effect upon our member’s well-being who often feel they are treated as the equivalent of battery hens and may find this experience de-humanising.

We call upon the Energy Service Group Executive – in conjunction with the Business and Environment Working Group – to conduct a survey into to how prevalent the use of Hot Desking has become and to highlight our growing concerns over health issues and the denial of personal space at the workplace which is adding to stress to our members.