Hello! If you or anyone you know works in a call centre please get them to read this and complete the survey on behalf of my friend, Phil...
My name is Prof. Phil Taylor (University of Strathclyde). I’ve been researching call centre work for 25 years. I’ve always striven to make a positive difference to people’s working lives, producing evidenced-based reports recommending improvements to call-handlers’ (especially womens’) working conditions, work-life balance and health and safety . Nothing comes close, though, in terms of seriousness of any research I’ve ever been involved in. THIS RESEARCH CAN ACTUALLY SAVE LIVES.
I am collaborating with health and safety and trade union officers and experts and call centre workers directly. I had received alarming stories from many call centre contacts about the hazards workers were facing, including no or little social distancing, poor cleaning and sanitisation, no PPE, face-to-face meetings, HVAC (heating ventilation air conditioning systems) a long standing problem in open-plan high-density offices, recirculating contaminated air, hot-desking and lift occupancy.
Following feedback a draft survey was tweaked and piloted. The outcome is this online survey, link: phil.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/covid19-call-centre-back-office-workers_savelives
The survey is promoted by many bodies and individuals. A key aim is to get urgently needed solid evidence that can expose bad practice and stop it and promote good practice, such as homeworking, that will raise the health and safety bar. The key thing is to distribute the link as widely possible. It is straightforward to complete. Clicking the link takes you to the survey and when completed, clicking the finish button sends it to an inbox that only I can access. So confidentiality is guaranteed. The software is GDPR compliant. Preliminary findings were released (see attachment). Targeted evidence-based have already been used to make a real difference in particular workplaces. We have 2,700 completed responses to date. I know how important Mumsnet is for parents and for families – some members will be call centre workers and others will be the parents of them as well.
It is vital that the survey circulates as widely as possible. Please forward to family, friends, neighbours, to anyone who works in a centre or might know someone who does. The more responses we receive, the stronger will be the evidence and the more effective we can be in terms of general media impact and interventions.
Your support would really make a difference. If you have queries, feel free to contact me at: [email protected].
Stay safe, save lives, we’re all precious.
Phil
Professor Philip Taylor
Professor of Work and Employment Relations
Department of Work, Employment and Organisation
International Academic Director
Strathclyde Business School
University of Strathclyde
Glasgow, G4 0QU