Owen Sound Family Health Team employee survey paints bleak picture

OWEN SOUND, ON, Feb. 18, 2016 /CNW/ -  A recent survey of OPSEU Local 276 employees with the Owen Sound Family Health Team has exposed toxic working conditions, with two-thirds of staff who took the survey reporting they have been bullied or harassed at work.

The survey asked employees to respond to 16 key questions that rate, among other things, the quality of management, workplace atmosphere and levels of stress. Four out of five employees responding said management was poor, and 84 per cent rated workplace atmosphere as bad. Ninety-four per cent reported feeling very stressed.

Union representatives shared the startling results with clinic physicians at a meeting held two days ago.

Lucy Morton, OPSEU Health Care Professionals Sector Chair, said the survey identified some very disturbing issues at the facility. "These findings confirm what we've been hearing. Staff are sick and tired of the shoddy way they're treated. It's no wonder we've got a revolving-door turnover rate."

OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas expressed alarm and consternation at the survey, particularly regarding the high rate of intimidation. "When you've got two-thirds of employees saying they've been bullied or harassed, the employer has to take immediate action to root out the systemic problems that let this kind of offensive behaviour poison the workplace."

Owen Sound Family Health Team is a new bargaining unit that is part of OPSEU Local 276. It was organized in September 2015, and members ratified a first collective agreement in January 2016.

SOURCE Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU)

David Cox, OPSEU Staff Representative, 416-443-8888, ext. 5262