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Summer 2004

Supportive Housing staff stand up for safe workplace

HACSU members working for Supportive Housing Inc recently took a stand to sort out what had become an intolerable situation of a family who were “bailing up” staff about care issues and making allegations but not prepared to put it in writing.

Staff believed there were real workplace safety issues that needed to be addressed. The HACSU members wanted a clear process established through which family of the client could take their complaints/suggestions, so that they could be documented and then sorted through.

Staff invoked clauses in the workplace OH&S Act to advance their claim.

Staff were happy to work with family members to develop the new processes.

After a difficult period of negotiations, new staffing arrangements and procedures are being put in place which, hopefully, will ensure more effective client care, and a safer, less stressful workplace for staff.