Empl 1 Week 12 Tutorial

In the wake of this incident, you have decided that it is time for the government to introduce statutory regulation to limit the maximum hours of a shift. You petition your local representative, who seems receptive to your concerns, and requests that you make a short written submission (of no more than 500 words) outlining the i) WLB and ii) OHS issues that may arise in this situation and the potential consequences if they are not resolved satisfactorily.

• Work life balance – maintaining balance between responsibilities at work and at home
• Local representative should listen to calls for regulation as WLB balance has become bigger issue in workplace

• More focus on family and flexibility
• Workforce demographics changing
• Labour shortages

• In this situation, there are several issues that have the potential to affect different stakeholders

• Employers – if medical interns are unhappy with the long shift hours, this will affect recruitment, and the retention of workers
• Interns are also less likely to be committed and motivated at work, huge impact as hospitals require a great deal of concentration and focus to serve patients
• Interns – super stressed at work, unable to properly think and perform their duties
• Community – potential impacts are lower quality of health care service as a result of interns working such long shifts

• Occupational Health and Safety

• 228 work-related deaths in Australia in 2011-2012
• Medical interns are hugely impacted by OHS discussion as the shifts required for medical practice and work in hospitals are extremely long
• Injured interns will have to bear the costs

• Job of government to support safe workplace practices

• In supporting regulation measures this would be in line with preventative legislation