Active participation of workers in the finance and banking sector: an italian study

1. Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro Active participation of workers in the finance and banking sector: an italian study Authors Name Dr.ssa Lucia Macciocu Dr.ssa Ilaria Rossi Dr.ssa Giuliana Buresti Dr. PierPaolo Ferrante Rome 5 November 2008

2. “No action is without search and no search is without action” (Kurt Lewin) Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro

3. ACTION-RESEARCH The action-research is not only a means of knowledge, but aboveall: ways of involvement ways in relating opportunities to know oneself and to know others reacting to change Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro

4. THE SOCIAL CHANGE Analyzing the topic of change, Lewin conducted some experiments on the processes of decision making and change. The experiments were articulated in 3 phases: Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro 1-Phase 3-Phase To establish the ways to influence reciprocating psychological aspects Carry out experiments to reveal the factors that facilitate change. 2-Phase To research about the psychological processes that influence the change.

5. THE SOCIAL CHANGE In groups Comparing Effects of the decisions taken Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro More effective and durable Other methods/one to one Lesseffective

6. ACTIVE PARTICIPATION The collective action of consultation and cooperation by workers is aimed at actively contributing towards safeguarding health and safety in the workplace, providing a proactive contribution to aspects connected to daily work practice, throughout its organization and the optimization of relationships between workers and other elements of the enterprise system. Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro

7. ACTIVE PARTICIPATION The active participation can only be achieved by allowing personnel to: • Define issues • Voice their concerns • Provide suggestions for improving the organisational environment Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro Maslach et al. 2000

8. ACTIVE PARTICIPATION Elements of theories Worker’s active participation in the prevention of psychosocial hazards is a key priority for becoming a socially responsible enterprise. Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro

9. CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSABILITY - CSR Concept whereby companies decide voluntarily to contribute to a better society and a cleaner environment. Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro European Agency for Health andSafety at Work

10. Active participation of workers in the finance and banking sector RESEARCH The methodology were articulated in 2 phases: 1-Phase 2-Phase For the purposes of this study, a questionnaire was administered to determine the level of active partecipation in safety. The questionnaire used for the survey refers to various dimensions that were divided and classified into 8 areas. The sample consisted: Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro 1 Of 2100 subjects from the credit sector distributed throughout Italy. The objectives: 1 2 Analysing the characteristics of the employees’ work in the italian bank sector. To examine the level of participation in the Health and Safety at work, and focusing primarily on issues related to well-being.

11. Active participation of workers in the finance and banking sector RESEARCH Methodology Classified 8 areas • Personal data and work history of individual workers; • The active participation of the worker with particular reference to his o her perception of being able to actively contribute to the various phases of management interventions to apply Health and Safety regulations; Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro • Safety information and investigates specific risks from work activities and in the working environment as well as prevention and emergency measures; • Training system and analyses the predominant type of training implemented in the organisation;

12. RESEARCH Active participation of workers in the finance and banking sector Methodology • Characteristics of the assigned work tasks and work pace and the impressions on the work; • Interpersonal relationships both within the company, relationships and outside relationships with customers; Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro • Psychophysical well-being and investigates health conditions with particular reference to work situations experienced as critical, such as robbery and theft; • Job satisfaction, such as income, career development, professional autonomy, working hours, work incentives.

13. AREA - ACTIVE PARTECIPATION Frequencies Analysis Participation in prevention and safety intervention phases Active participation in safety Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro Source: DML- ISPESL

14. AREA - ACTIVE PARTECIPATION Frequencies Analysis Safety training initiatives Participation in promoting safety and well-being in the organisation Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro Source: DML- ISPESL

15. AREA - INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP Frequencies Analysis Positive feedback from customers Aggressive customers Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro Source: DML- ISPESL

16. AREA - INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP Frequencies Analysis Relationship with colleagues Relationship with superiors Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro Source: DML- ISPESL

17. AREA – PSYCHOPHYSICAL WELL-BEING Frequencies Analysis Perception of mental fatigue Critical situation Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro Source: DML- ISPESL

18. AREA – JOB SATISFACTION Frequencies Analysis Job satisfaction Aspects of work which involve fear and anxiety Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro Source: DML- ISPESL

19. OUTCOMES DISCUSSION Frequencies Analysis Ambiguity relationships with customers Formal relationships with superiors Lack active partecipation of workers Lack carrer development Good support relationship with colleagues Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro Lack communication organizational Satisfactory pay & working hours Psychosocial discomfort

20. RESEARCH Methodology: Correspondence Analysis Main issues: •  A Multivariate analysis approach that is best suited for qualitative data and questionnaires • Main Objective: to reach a “subspace” that represents the initial characteristics, by maintaining the maximum information • Explains the relationship between multiple variables • Represents, geometrically, contingency table in order to identify the association between qualitative variables • Compares at the same time, in a two dimensions plan, the variables mutual position. The relevance of each variable will be defined by his contribution to the total variance • The more a point is far from the axis origin, the more the modality that it represents affects the identification of the axis itself Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro

21. ILLUSTRATIVE VARIABLES – Axis 1/2 Profile: MANAGERS Profile: EMPLOYEES RESPONSABILITY ILLNESS Criticalsituations Profile:FINANCIAL Profile: YOUTH Profile:BACK OFFICE NO RESPONSABILITY WELL-BEING Plan explains 79% of the whole variance

22. AXIS • SEMIAXIS: AREA OF UNSATISFACTION AND ILLNESS • - Conflict with colleagues and management • - Psychophysical Illness • - Poorphysical and mental health • - Repetitive work and lack of motivation • Heavyandnonstimulatingwork • Unsatisfactory professional qualification and career development • SEMIAXIS: AREA OF RESPONSABILITY • Informedon work risks • Adequatetraining • ActiveParticipation in safety training • - Concernedabout theft at work Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro • SEMIAXIS: AREA OF SATISFACTION AND WELLNESS • - Collaborative relationship with colleagues and management • Jobsatisfaction • Creativeandstimulatingwork • Psychophysicalhealth • Good level of health • - Professionalsatisfaction • SEMIAXIS: AREA NO RESPONSABILITY • Uninformedon work risks • Lackof participation safety training • Lackof risk information • Notinformedon prevention on work activity • Notattendwork safety training

23. In conclusion, the following are a series of possible multi-level interventions to improve the working conditions of the employees of the credit institutions interviewed: • 1) at the organisational level, in light of the results obtained, a holistic approach should be adopted with the aim of integrating OSH in the banks’ policy strategy, to improve personnel management policies and training. • 2) at the individual-organisational interface level, a research/intervention on participation should be implemented in order to deal with occupational health and safety aspects, especially in the prevention of psychosocial hazards. • 3) at the individual level, employees should be helped by developing their coping abilities, time management techniques, relaxation techniques and by providing them with counselling.