A new IMPACT survey has revealed that almost half of Aer Lingus cabin crew work while they are sick. Over 25% of respondents said that they had done so three or more times during the four-week survey period. And over a third reported that they took sleep medication once a week or more.

The final report of IMPACT’s Cabin Crew branch Health and Wellbeing Survey, gives a detailed picture of the state of health and mental wellbeing of Aer Lingus cabin crew. The report, by Dr Richard Wynne of the Work Research Centre, is based on a detailed survey taken over a 28 day period in July 2014.

IMPACT assistant general secretary Michael Landers said the report was commissioned against a background of demanding changes in work procedures including rostering, sick leave arrangements and occupational stress. He said the main reasons cabin crew give for working while ill is that they want to avoid disciplinary action (39%) or they didn’t consider their illness serious enough to miss work (29%).

“There is a very high level of dissatisfaction with the company’s sickness absence procedures. Just over 40% of cabin crew responding to the survey said that they were required to see the company doctor on the first day of their absence from work due to illness. This helps to explain the high levels of ‘presenteeism’ among cabin crew, and raises genuine concerns about health and safety of staff and passengers if people are continuing to work through periods of illness. It also indicates that actual rates of illness are probably underestimated,” he said.

Just over 20% of respondents said they continued to work because they didn’t want to let their colleagues down, with 17% citing financial reasons.

Mr Landers said that the report also revealed significant problems with sleep disruption and a high level of dependence on sleep medication. Over a third of respondents say they took sleep medication at least once a week. The survey also reveals significant problems with digestive disorders, psychological wellbeing, workplace stress and the physical work environment.

Rosters

Rosters continue to present difficulties for Aer Lingus cabin crew. Over 80% of respondents reported that they hadn’t had the opportunity for a meal break while working, and that this had occurred, on average, just over four times during the survey period. More than half of respondents reported that this had occurred three or more times during the period. 

Mr Landers said: “During the survey period a large majority worked flight duty periods of more than nine hours, while almost a third had worked at least one flight duty period of more than 13 hours. Most experienced flight delays, difficulties in taking meal breaks and duty swaps were also difficult to achieve.

“Most cabin crew reported obtaining the minimum rest period (12 hours off between shifts under flight time limitation rules) just once in the period. Overall, levels of satisfaction with the roster system were low, and remain a very significant problem for cabin crew,” he said.

Low morale

The survey also assessed levels of stress at work, using methods developed by the Health & Safety Authority, and shows high levels of stress arising from poor communications between management and staff, with 34% of respondents describing morale at work as being ‘very low’.

Mr Landers said that, overall, approximately 38% of cabin crew reported poor wellbeing. “Compared against data collected by the Work Research Centre and ESRI, the survey indicates that cabin crew report among the highest levels of psychological distress of all occupation groups, including teachers and health care workers,” he said.

The most negative responses related to lack of support when under pressure at work (46.7%), and the employer’s lack of flexibility to allow staff to manage non-work commitments, such as family and dependents (41.7%). Respondents also criticised the lack of positive and formal feedback from management.

Solutions

The report’s author, Dr Richard Wynne, has recommended that a joint union/management approach on health and safety is necessary. Mr Landers added, “This would require a safety-focused approach to monitoring rosters for health indicators and the particular effects on sleep disruption, as well as hazard identification for physical risks in the workplace.

“Arrangements for taking meals during the working day need to improve. We also need a fresh approach to managing attendance at work. The company must change the emphasis from its current focus on control measures, and focus instead on improving attendance through improving underlying health and wellbeing,” he said.

Mr Landers said that the survey reveals the price paid by Aer Lingus staff for maintaining the levels of service upon which the airline has built its reputation. “These are workers whose loyalty to the company has seen it through the worst of times, returned it to profitability, and made Aer Lingus an attractive acquisition for its parent company IAG.

“However, it has come at a cost to the health and wellbeing of cabin crew, and this is an issue we want to work on closely with Aer Lingus management. If management ignore the results of this survey, the ongoing effect will be corrosive for both management and Aer Lingus workers,” he said.