The survey utilised questions developed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and allowed the PDA to understand more about how some members are being affected by stress at work.
The PDA continues to see increasing numbers of members sharing their experiences of the ever-growing pressures that they feel placed under and requesting support relating to work-related stress. Employers have a duty of care regarding the health and safety of employees, which includes mental and physical health. This also involves a legal duty to assess the risks to its employees including workplace stress and the management of work-related stress.
This is not the first time the PDA has utilised the HSE Stress and Wellbeing Survey and, as in previous years, respondents made it clear that they feel there are too many unreasonable demands being placed on them by employers which impact their health and wellbeing at work. Many pharmacists who completed the survey shared their experiences of unachievable targets, unrealistic time pressures, and a lack of good management support.
The results also show a worrying downward trend around bullying and harassment. The PDA’s ‘It’s Time to Tackle Bullying in the Workplace’ toolkit explains employee rights when it comes to bullying. It also highlights what employees can do when they are being bullied in the workplace and provides advice on ways to access support and improve working conditions.
Patient care is an absolute priority for PDA members, and the majority of responses continue to reflect the personal sacrifices that pharmacists make to ensure patient services are not impacted by the poor conditions and extreme workload pressures in some pharmacies. The pharmacist workforce within community pharmacy is particularly feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and concerned about the safety of their patients, as well as their own health and wellbeing.
PDA Representatives will be sharing survey results with the employers where relevant health and safety committees exist. These are bodies that an employer has a legal obligation to set up if two or more safety representatives request this in writing.
The PDA’s Safer Pharmacies Charter is an important tool for tackling these issues and is available for all pharmacist employers to adopt. The PDA encourages all pharmacies to sign up to the Charter and meet the seven commitments it contains. The Safer Pharmacies Charter was developed by frontline pharmacists and has been endorsed by many organisations since its launch. Thousands of pharmacists have also registered their support for the seven commitments that promote a safe and professional working environment.
Learn more
- It’s Time to Tackle Bullying in the Workplace
- Safer Pharmacies Charter
- HSE Stress and Wellbeing Survey – 2022 results
- HSE Stress and Wellbeing Survey for PDA members employed at Lloyds, Boots and Well – 2021 results
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