Green MEP Warns Cultural Revolution Needed To Prevent Deaths From Stress
14 February 2007
As reports today reveal that a London lawyer has killed himself due tothe long hours and stress in his working life, London's Green MEP, JeanLambert has warned that a 'cultural revolution' is needed to end theUK's long hours culture and prevent such tragedies happening again.
Jean Lambert, who is the Green's co-ordinator of the EuropeanParliament's Committee on Employment and Social Affairs and last yearreleased her report 'I Must Work Harder?' highlighting the effects oflong working hours, commented; "The death of Mathew Courtney isdesperately sad. Tragically his concerns, over the long hours he wasworking, are only now being highlighted when it is too late for him.This should, more than anything, ring alarm bells that our long hoursculture must change.
"Sadly the British work culture is such that stress is seen as aweakness and often managers don't know how to recognise or manage it. Ifwe don't change our approach our workforce will become even morevulnerable. With indirect results of long hours, such as tiredness onthe roads, being particularly damaging, and symptoms of stress andfatigue often worse than being under the influence of alcohol or drugs,cutting the UK's long hours and introducing flexibility will protect allof society in so many ways.
"Over 4 million people in the UK already work over 48 hours per week anda cultural revolution is now needed if we are to achieve the work lifebalance we want for both men and women. It is vital that we protectothers from the desperation, pressure and unrealistic workload thatMatthew Courtney must have been under."
ENDS
For more information please contact:Morwenna Holland, Media Officertel: 020 7407 6280 or 07813149812email: media@jeanlambertmep.org.ukwww.jeanlambertmep.org.uk
Notes to editors:Jean Lambert: In October 2005 Jean was named MEP 2005 for Justice andHuman Rights. Jean was first elected Green Party Member of the EuropeanParliament for London in the 1999 European elections. She was re-electedin 2004. She is one of nine MEPs representing London and one of two UKGreen representatives in the European Parliament.
