- Conference
- 2015 Community Service Group Conference
- Date
- 6 November 2014
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes with concern that many charities and third sector organisations are currently short staffed but are unwilling or unable to hire new staff members due to cost. Staffing shortages in the Community & Voluntary Sector are having a negative impact on workers lives, particularly young workers. In particular, staffing shortages can impact on:
1) Flexible working requests not being accommodated by employers, or older staff given priority as they are perceived to have more caring responsibilities;
2) Staff with existing non-standard working patterns, which are more likely to be young workers, being pressurised into changing their working hours, which could create problems with care arrangements and other home commitments;
3) Training and learning opportunities being restricted where managers are unwilling to release staff because there is nobody to cover the work;
4) Staff feeling increasingly pressured into working additional unpaid hours to ensure that work is completed and that patient safety etc. is not compromised;
5) Staff experiencing increasing levels of stress as work pressures impact negatively on their health and wellbeing.
Therefore conference calls on the Community & Voluntary Group Executive to campaign to highlight the impact of staff shortages on the lives of all workers in the sector but particularly the disproportionate impact this can have on young workers.