Archive for the ‘member emails’ Category
Workload and You
Friday, May 28th, 2021
To: All AESES Members
How productive do you think you are? Studies have shown that if you are overworked, it is damaging to your productivity and your health.
Years before the start of this pandemic, the Harvard Business Review provided insight that “…regardless of our reasons for working long hours, overwork does not help us. For starters, it doesn’t seem to result in more output.” The negatives associated with overwork outweigh the positives, contribute to long-term health issues, decrease morale, and increase employee sick time.
According to a KPMG survey that surveyed Canadian employees in April, almost half (49%) responded that they are dealing with heavier workloads. A more disturbing trend from the KPMG survey is that nearly 31 percent more reported that they are so overworked that they are on the verge of burning out or already burnt out.
It might sound like simple advice to stick to your normal seven-hour workday (for most AESES members), but it’s easier said than done. With increased pressure from management, short staffing situations and complexities from working from home, increasing workloads and stress levels are becoming a common experience.
Top seven tips to help you manage your own workload:
- Make a list (paper or electronic) and prioritize tasks.
- Set time limits for specific tasks, especially responding to email.
- Be realistic with your deadlines and how much you can do.
- Multitasking might not be the best option; switching back and forth from different tasks may increase the time to get things done.
- Try not to procrastinate. Choose a task and work through it.
- Take breaks and your lunch. Breaking up large tasks with mini-breaks will help you recharge; even taking a minute to grab a beverage can help change your perspective.
- Ask for help if you need more details or might need more time to complete a task. Under most circumstances, supervisors are flexible and want to see you succeed.
If the issue is an unbalanced workload within your immediate team, check with your supervisor to see if they can make some changes. Your supervisor might not be aware of the situation, and a quick check-in may help rebalance the workload. For help on talking with your supervisor, please revisit the Can You Tell Me? article in the December 2020 issue of insideAESES. If you are having difficulties reaching a reasonable solution, please contact the AESES Business Office to be connected with our Labour Relations team.
Keep in mind if your area requires a change to your schedule to meet demands or workloads, there are requirements outlined in the collective agreements (UW – Article 12.4, UM – Article 12.5) as to the notice you need beforehand. Remember, schedule changes do not include your supervisor directing you to “flex” your time by essentially working overtime at straight-time rates. Any time worked over your seven-hour workday should be overtime, and your compensation should reflect this.
Articles of interest:
- Half of Workers Dealing with Heavier Workloads
- The Research is Clear: Long Hours Backfire for People and for Companies
- Here’s How to Tell Your Boss You Have Too Much Work
- Can You Tell Me? How Do I Handle a Workload Concern?
Resources of interest:
- Canada.ca – Reducing Work-Life Conflict: What Works? What Doesn’t?
- Any.do – The Best Way to Organize Your Life
- Microsoft To-do – A Smart Daily Planner
- Google – Calendar and To Do
In closing, we all want to be productive in our jobs. But working unmanageable workloads and overtime hours is not maintainable in the long run and leaves you running on steam. With a bit of prioritizing and the help of your supervisor or team members, you can return to a balanced workload that allows everyone with enough gas left in the tank to enjoy your life outside of work.
Thanks, and enjoy your weekend!
Mental Health and You
Friday, April 16th, 2021
To: All AESES Members
How are you feeling? We all get asked frequently, but how honestly do we answer, not only to the person asking the question but to ourselves?
Some days it is hard to know exactly how we are feeling. Since the pandemic started, our days/weeks/months have blurred together, resulting in, for some, a rollercoaster of emotions, fatigue and stress.
You are not alone. The AESES Working During the Pandemic (WDP) survey showed many members are struggling with workloads, technology and experiencing mental health concerns. For some, the survey might have been the first time members told someone about their situation, albeit anonymously.
A recent Angus Reid Group public opinion survey detailed Canadians emotional state and other topics experienced during the pandemic. The report similarly mirrored the results of the AESES WDP survey when compared to equivalent emotional states. These similarities show that the entire nation feels the same way as our members. Your emotions are a natural response to adapting and reacting to the current conditions around us. Read the complete PDF report here.
Please don’t stay silent. If you think you need help, please speak to your healthcare provider. If you are experiencing issues related to your work or workloads, express your concerns to your supervisor first. If that proves unsuccessful, contact the AESES Business Office, and we can help provide you with guidance on available options to address your situation. We are here to help.
If you find your physical or mental health on the decline and interfering with your performance, please contemplate accessing your paid sick leave entitlement to manage your wellness. Depending on your position type, you may have access to 180 days of paid sick leave or banked sick leave. The length of time needed should be under a doctor’s directive and may need to be supported by a medical certificate. If you have any questions about your circumstance, please contact the AESES Business Office to be connected with our Labour Relations team.
With most members working from home, sometimes it is hard to remember to take your allocated breaks and maybe even lunch. Where Zoom or Microsoft Teams meetings occur during your normal break times, ensure that you make arrangements to take your coffee breaks and full lunch hour around these meeting times to destress and reset yourself before continuing your workday. Set up reminder alarms and leave your computer when they chime. You can also reach out to co-workers when it is break time, and they will be happy with the reminder! Now that the weather is getting warmer (well, maybe not until next week), take a stroll in your yard or enjoy the spring air from your balcony. Changing your environment does a world of good for your mood and wellbeing.
As of April 1, your annual vacation allotment was refilled and ready for use. Scheduling time away from work helps maintain a healthy work-life balance, and there is no reason not to take your vacation days. So do. If they are scheduled far enough in advance with proper coverage, you are contractually entitled to take them. Since actual trips are not yet a reality, stay home (or close to home, like your backyard) to destress and relax with your household, pets or binge-watch your favourite new series.
Articles of interest:
- COVID-19’s Parallel Pandemic: Why We Need a Mental Health ‘Vaccine’
- Stressed About Returning to ‘Normal’ Life After COVID-19? Experts Share Tips to Cope
- Protecting Workers’ Mental Health During COVID-19
Resources of interest:
- Wellness Together Canada
- Stress, the Brain & Mental Health Hygiene (Webinar)
- Mental Health 101
- AESES Wellness Resources
We appreciate our members’ hard work and dedication to your employer, but please do not forget about your overall wellness when asked to get the job done. It’s not a competition worth winning if you sacrifice your mental health crossing the finish line.