- Conference
- 2024 Energy Service Group Conference
- Date
- 20 February 2024
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes that many of our members in the Energy service group are seeing the result of the cost of living crisis in an increase in customers who are experiencing financial issues.
Our members are often the first to speak to customers with financial concerns, many displaying signs of significant mental distress, with some expressing suicidal thoughts. For disabled Energy workers who may themselves have a mental health impairment, this can trigger their own mental health problems and can lead to avoidable time off sick which can impact their career progression.
Conference believes that Energy employers should provide better training in dealing with customers in mental distress and with suicidal thoughts and should also provide support and time off for Energy workers who may themselves find their mental health is impacted through dealing with these customers.
Conference therefore call on the Energy service group executive to:
1) Use the bargaining levers at its disposal to seek to negotiate better training for staff in dealing with customers in mental distress or expressing suicidal thoughts
2) Seek to negotiate for better support for staff with mental health problems who may need additional support and time off to protect their own mental health after speaking to customers in mental distress.