Latest news with #workload
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Outwood Grange: Strike action set in row over extended school day
School workers in Nottinghamshire are set to go on strike in protest at plans to extend the day for students and of the National Education Union (NEU) at Outwood Grange Academies Trust in Kirkby-in-Ashfield and Worksop said they were planning to strike for six days in June against the trust's plans, which will add an extra 30 minutes onto the day across its 28 secondary schools in NEU says it will lead "to a substantial increase in workload and a struggle to retain teachers".In a statement Outwood Grange Academies Trust said it has "constructively engaged with our trade union partners and our colleagues since October". 'Genuine consultation' Strike action is planned for 3, 10 and 11 June, and for three days from 17 will be in place at Outwood Grange Academy in Kirkby, and Outwood Academy Portland and Outwood Academy Valley, both in Worksop, from 07:30 to 09:00 BST on each of the above Raine, the NEU's senior regional officer for the East Midlands region, said members "voted overwhelmingly" for strike action because they said they were not given a say on the changes."They decided to unilaterally extend the school day - to put extra lesson time in, etc - without consulting with us or our members," he said."Our members are dissatisfied, because they believe this will increase workload dramatically at a time when we've already got fewer resources, and stretched members and class sizes, and where we've got trouble retaining teachers."Members want to negotiate with Outwood Grange to come to some sort of reasonable agreement that would suit both parties, but so far we've been unable to do that."Outwood Grange Academies Trust said it is "exceptionally disappointed" at the strike action, adding its current arrangement means its school day is "short of the government's 32.5-hour-a-week minimum expectation"."The small change we have proposed will mean students can learn more and achieve even stronger outcomes, and will still mean the school day is within the time as set out in the government's school teachers' pay and conditions document," a statement said."We have approached this as a genuine consultation and have taken on board feedback to make changes to our original proposal."
CBC
23-05-2025
- CBC
B.C. prosecutors file workload grievance over staff shortages, citing court delays
The B.C. Crown Counsel Association says it has filed a formal workload grievance against the B.C. Prosecution Service over what it calls "inadequate staffing" in its Okanagan and Kootenay offices. The association representing 550 Crown prosecutors across B.C. says that while staffing and resource shortages impact all of its lawyers, issues in Vernon, Kelowna, Penticton, Nelson and Cranbrook are "particularly acute." It says the prosecution service has continuously breached its collective agreement with respect to managing staffing levels. The association says that paired with an increasing workload in those growing communities, the issue is harming prosecutors' ability to prepare and bring cases to court in a timely manner. It says it is now seeking an arbitrator's declaration that the employer has breached the contract and must meet its contractual obligations by hiring more staff. Adam Dalrymple, president of the B.C. Crown Counsel Association, says the region needs 20 more Crown counsel to handle the current workload, representing a 25 per cent increase. "Our job is to uphold the rule of law in B.C. and keep the public safe to the very best of our ability," he says in a news release. "However, the workload is excessive, and a shortage of Crown Counsel threatens our ability to bring cases to court on time." Dalrymple says the conditions are also causing burnout among its members. "These working conditions affect our ability to attract and retain more Crown Counsel," he said.
RNZ News
21-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
FMA staff given weekly survey asking how they spend each day
Staff at the Financial Markets Authority have been told to complete a weekly survey detailing how they spend each workday, tasks down to the half hour, names and durations of meetings, and whether their workload is manageable. The FMA said it's designed to help them monitor and improve efficiency, but it's raised some eyebrows. Lauren Crimp has more. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
Globe and Mail
20-05-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Is AI helping workers and improving productivity or just creating more work?
Do a simple internet search and you will find dozens of articles touting how artificial intelligence will allow employees to work faster and be more productive: 'AI could save workers 12 hours per week,' '5 ways to turn AI's time-saving magic into your productivity superpower,' 'Amazon's CEO says its AI tool has saved a crazy amount of time,' and so on. But many workers using AI tools say the new technology is making their jobs harder. A study last year by the Upwork Research Institute in the U.S. found 47 per cent of employees using AI say they had no idea how to achieve the productivity gains their employers expect, and 77 per cent say these tools actually added to their workload. 'I think it's such a huge wake-up call for business leaders that we have to do something differently,' says Gabriela Burlacu, a senior research manager at Upwork and one of the authors of the study. 'Executives have such high expectations of the productivity impacts of AI,' she says. 'But I think a step that has been skipped is understanding from the perspective of the employees being asked to use the tools.' Walid Hejazi, a professor of economic analysis and policy at University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management and director of its executive training programs, says he's not surprised by the study's findings. He oversees courses to help both business leaders and employees understand the potential of generative AI. 'AI is not a strategy. AI is a tool to achieve a strategy,' he says. 'And very often organizations are not putting the thought into how to integrate AI into achieving their strategy. Very often it's just thrown to the employee to say, here, [Microsoft] Co-Pilot or ChatGPT, use it.' 'Currently [AI] is not integrated into workflows,' Prof. Hejazi continues. 'It's just there as an add-on. And people are having real difficulty thinking, 'When should I use it? When shouldn't I use it? If I do use it, is it plagiarism?' People don't know that.' While AI can complete certain tasks faster than humans, Prof. Hejazi adds, management often overlooks the new tasks it creates. For example, ChatGPT might generate a five-page summary in a few seconds, but the user still needs to edit and fact-check it. 'My bosses are looking at me and saying, 'Well, ChatGPT did this [summary]. What else have you been doing?'' Organizations and workers are also struggling to keep up with the pace of AI development, says Keka DasGupta, vice-chair of the board for CERIC, a Canadian nonprofit supporting career and employment professionals. 'As soon as you get one [AI] program that's good and people learn it, a new system comes out and it's 10 times faster, 100 times faster,' says Ms. DasGupta, who is also a corporate leadership trainer and regularly works with HR professionals trying to implement artificial intelligence in their workplaces. 'And then we have to re-learn, we have to pivot all over again.' Another obstacle to reaping the full benefits of AI, Ms. Burlacu says, is a lack of imagination: Companies often limit AI's impact by using it only to automate existing processes. She recalls working at a company that produced HR software. Clients typically used it to automate tasks done manually for years, such as annual performance reviews. However, the software could support more dynamic, continuous performance management – opportunities they missed by not redesigning their approach. 'We really need to be innovating how we're structured, how work is done, how work flows through the organization in order to see that greater productivity,' she says. To implement AI successfully, Prof. Hejazi says corporate leaders must determine how AI fits into their overall strategy, clearly communicate expectations around AI to employees and provide proper training. 'Change is hard in the best of times,' he says. 'And with something this transformative, you really have to prepare the organization.' Ms. DasGupta says companies should gather internal feedback about how employees are coping with the AI transition. 'We get these kinds of surveys that tell us how 77 per cent of the [overall] work force is feeling,' she says, referring to the Upwork study. 'I would ask HR managers, 'Do you have those specific data points for your employees?' If you don't, it's really important to know what their experiences are like in order to improve their productivity.' And for all the emphasis on the increased efficiency and productivity AI can deliver, Ms. Burlacu says corporate leaders need to think beyond quantity and speed. 'A big thing that we're seeing with organizations that are successfully bringing their workers along the journey is using AI as a learning tool,' she says. 'As a tool to be more creative, to try different things. It's not necessarily working faster or doing more work but just doing things differently.'
Associated Press
12-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
OCEU/CUPE 1750 to Hold Media Availability Ahead of May 16th Strike Deadline
TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 12, 2025-- The union representing workers at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) were surprised when their employer filed to terminate the Collective Agreement effective May 16 th. The employer had its bargaining mandate for only 2 bargaining dates when management filed this request with the ministry, even as good-faith proposals presented by the union were being tabled. The members of CUPE local 1750 are struggling with unreasonable workloads. Where the WSIB management sees only case numbers, the dedicated case managers, nurses, return to work specialists, health & safety specialists and other crucial workers see the people dealing with serious injuries that impact their daily lives. Except they're not given enough time or resources. They used to get six months training. Now, it's barely three with double the caseloads. These dangerously high workloads, coupled with a toxic work environment are impacting the members of CUPE local 1750's own health, with instances of depression and anxiety almost double the national average. This slows down their ability to help and makes accessing the benefits injured workers rely on much more difficult. The employer's failure to negotiate with us tells us one thing loud and clear; they want to break our union, decrease permanent jobs and not address work overload. This is a continuation of a troubling trend among public sector employers negotiating in Doug Ford's Ontario, undermining workers' rights and cutting essential services for Ontarians. Our members want to help the people of Ontario who need us, but the employer would rather force us to strike or lock us out. Our members deserve a fair deal, and a healthy workplace. We are prepared to fight to make that happen. We all deserve that; we are in it for you. mb/cope491 View source version on CONTACT: For more information, please contact: Bill Chalupiak, CUPE Communications Representative 416-707-1401 [email protected] KEYWORD: NORTH AMERICA CANADA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: PUBLIC POLICY/GOVERNMENT LABOR ADVOCACY GROUP OPINION STATE/LOCAL SOURCE: Canadian Union of Public Employees Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 05/12/2025 10:39 AM/DISC: 05/12/2025 10:39 AM
