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
Dipartimento Medicina del Lavoro
“No action is without search
and no search is without
action”
(Kurt Lewin)
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
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ACTION-RESEARCH
Analyzing the topic of change, Lewin conducted some
experiments on the processes of decision making and
change.
The experiments were articulated in 3
phases:
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
psychological processes
influence the change.
the
that
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THE SOCIAL CHANGE
In groups
Comparing
Effects
of the
decisions
taken
More effective and durable
Other methods/one to one
Less effective
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THE SOCIAL CHANGE
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.
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ACTIVE PARTICIPATION
ACTIVE PARTICIPATION
Define issues
Voice their concerns
Provide suggestions for improving the organisational
environment
Maslach et al. 2000
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The active participation can only be achieved by allowing
personnel to:
ACTIVE PARTICIPATION
Worker’s active participation in the
prevention of psychosocial hazards is a key
priority for becoming a socially responsible
enterprise.
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Elements of theories
Concept whereby companies decide
voluntarily to contribute to a better
society and a cleaner environment.
European Agency for Health and Safety at Work
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CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSABILITY - CSR
RESEARCH
Active participation of workers
in the finance and banking sector
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:
1
Of 2100 subjects from the credit
sector distributed throughout Italy.
The objectives:
1
Analysing the characteristics of the
employees’ work in the italian bank
sector.
2
To
examine
the
level
of
participation in the Health and
Safety at work, and focusing
primarily on issues related to wellbeing.
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The methodology were articulated in 2 phases:
RESEARCH
Methodology
Active participation of workers
in the finance and banking sector
 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;
 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;
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Classified 8 areas
Methodology
Active participation of workers
in the finance and banking sector
 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;
 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.
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RESEARCH
AREA - ACTIVE PARTECIPATION
Frequencies Analysis
Active participation in safety
Source: DML- ISPESL
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Participation in prevention and safety
intervention phases
AREA - ACTIVE PARTECIPATION
Frequencies Analysis
Participation in promoting safety and wellbeing in the organisation
Source: DML- ISPESL
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Safety training initiatives
AREA - INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP
Frequencies Analysis
Aggressive customers
Source: DML- ISPESL
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Positive feedback from customers
AREA - INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP
Frequencies Analysis
Relationship with superiors
Source: DML- ISPESL
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Relationship with colleagues
AREA – PSYCHOPHYSICAL WELL-BEING
Frequencies Analysis
Critical situation
Source: DML- ISPESL
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Perception of mental fatigue
AREA – JOB SATISFACTION
Frequencies Analysis
Aspects of work which involve fear and
anxiety
Source: DML- ISPESL
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Job satisfaction
OUTCOMES DISCUSSION
Ambiguity
relationships
with customers
Formal
relationships
with superiors
Lack carrer
development
Lack active
partecipation of
workers
Good support
relationship with
colleagues
Lack
communication
organizational
Satisfactory pay &
working hours
Psychosocial
discomfort
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Frequencies Analysis
RESEARCH
Methodology: Correspondence Analysis
Main issues:
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
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 A Multivariate analysis approach that is best suited for qualitative
ILLUSTRATIVE VARIABLES – Axis 1/2
0,3
Profile: MANAGERS
Profile: EMPLOYEES
Managers
0,2
Axis 2
Divorced
Working: 25-30 years
Working: 15-20 years
Front Office + money
> 39 y.o.
0,1
Males
Profile: FINANCIAL
-0,4
0
-0,2
0
Working: 10-15 years
Married
0,2
0,4
Working: > 30 years
Single
Working: 0-5 years
secondary school
Long Term Contract
Working: 20-25 years
South
North
Professionals A
Full time
-0,6 Profile: YOUTH
Education:
30-39 y.o.
Front Office
no money
-0,1
Degree
20-29 y.o.
Part time
Female
Call Center
No Front Office
Center
-0,2
Profile: BACK OFFICE
Short Term Contract
Working: 5-10 years
-0,3
Axis 1
Plan explains 79% of the whole variance
0,6
AXIS
SEMIAXIS: AREA OF
RESPONSABILITY
- Conflict with colleagues and
management
- Psychophysical Illness
- Poor physical and mental health
- Repetitive work and lack of motivation
- Heavy and non stimulating work
- Unsatisfactory
professional
qualification and career development
- Informed on work risks
- Adequate training
- Active Participation in safety
training
- Concerned about theft at work
SEMIAXIS: AREA OF SATISFACTION AND
WELLNESS
-
Collaborative
relationship
colleagues and management
- Job satisfaction
- Creative and stimulating work
- Psychophysical health
- Good level of health
- Professional satisfaction
with
SEMIAXIS: AREA NO
RESPONSABILITY
- Uninformed on work risks
- Lack of participation safety
training
- Lack of risk information
- Not informed on prevention on
work activity
- Not attend work safety training
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SEMIAXIS: AREA OF UNSATISFACTION
AND ILLNESS
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.