{"id":8580,"date":"2022-10-28T10:58:17","date_gmt":"2022-10-28T08:58:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uniglobalunion.org\/?post_type=news&p=8580"},"modified":"2022-10-28T13:21:48","modified_gmt":"2022-10-28T11:21:48","slug":"investincare2022","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/uniglobalunion.org\/news\/investincare2022\/","title":{"rendered":"Global Day of Action for Care 2022: #InvestInCare means investing in care workers\u2019 mental health\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Even if the worst of the pandemic has passed, the e<\/span>xtraordinary pressure <\/span>and long-standing problems in care exacerbated by Covid<\/span>-19 <\/span>remain\u2014and need to be urgently addressed.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

That is why UNI Global Union is joining the international labour movement on 29 October to demand Investments and Decent Work in Care. \u00a0<\/span>The annual <\/span>g<\/span>lobal <\/span>a<\/span>ction <\/span>d<\/span>ay\u202ffor care\u202fis a joint initiative of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), UNI, Education International (EI), International Domestic Workers Federation (IDWF), Public Services International (PSI)<\/span>\u00a0and Women in Informal Employment Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO)<\/span>.<\/span> \u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

UNI\u2019s Care sector has been a leading force to advance care workers\u2019 rights around the world, and o<\/span>n this day of action, the union federation will draw attention to the urgent need for public investment in <\/span>the<\/span> care system<\/span>, with an emphasis on protecting worker mental health,<\/span> combatting burnout and increasing the working conditions.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

A recent study in <\/span>the New England Journal of Medicine<\/span><\/a> found that m<\/span>ore than half of health workers report symptoms of burnout,\u202fand many are contending with insomnia, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, or other mental health challenges.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Some of the key factors driving burnout amongst healthcare workers<\/span>,<\/span> include: stressful work environments, inappropriate staffing levels, <\/span>feelings of replaceability <\/span>and lack of support from a managerial or an organizational level.<\/span> Women, young people and parents of dependent children <\/span>were found<\/span><\/a> to be at greater risk of psychological distress<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cInvesting in care means making sure that the workers are cared for. It means that they must have safe jobs, adequate staffing levels and a real say in their working conditions,\u201d says <\/span>Adrian Durtschi, Head of Care at UNI<\/span><\/b>. \u201cWe\u2019ve talked a lot about the necessity of adequate PPE during the pandemic, and we cannot ignore the necessity of adequate mental health support for care workers who have endured so much.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

UNI\u2019s<\/span> global<\/span>, post-pandemic<\/span> survey of care workers showed 65 percent of workers<\/a> who experienced the death of a co-worker or patient reported no support from employers for anxiety, fear, and other mental health issues associated with their work.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

UNI is demanding immediate action to ensure better support and conditions for care workers.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cOur communities and countries must invest in care and invest in the health of caregivers,\u201d said Durtschi. \u201cTo start,<\/span> workers need decent pay, better staffing ratios <\/span>and <\/span>union representation.<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

?29 October is the global day of action to demand that we #InvestInCare<\/a>.

\u201cInvesting in care means making sure that workers have safe jobs, adequate staffing levels and a real say in their conditions.\u201d
?\ufe0f@adriandurtschi<\/a>https:\/\/t.co\/btVtIBY9G6<\/a>pic.twitter.com\/SrsdwNstun<\/a><\/p>— UNI Global Union (@uniglobalunion) October 28, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote>