The 1997 Workplace Employee Relations Survey

Employee questionnaire
This is a national survey of people at work. We are interested in your views about your job and your workplace. Your name was selected randomly from a list of people who work here. Some other people here have also been picked at random. Weve chosen people in this way so that we cover the full range of employees - from management to the most junior. There is no special reason why you were picked to fill in the survey or why others you work with were not picked. However, now that your name has come up, we would like you to fill in the questionnaire. Please do not pass it to someone else. Everything that you say in the questionnaire will remain confidential. The questionnaire has a serial number on it simply so that we know who has replied and do not send out reminders unnecessarily. After the answers have been entered into a computer, the questionnaire will be destroyed. The questionnaire should take no more than 15 minutes to complete. It can be done either at work or at home. It would be helpful if you could return the completed questionnaire within the next two weeks. If you need any help or want to know more about the survey, phone Andrew OReilly at the DTI on freephone 0800 0680707. Please use a black pen to complete the questionnaire and try to answer every question. Many thanks for your help.

P1700

Head Office: 35 Northampton Square, London EC1V 0AX Tel: 0171 250 1866 Fax: 0171 250 1524

A About your job

A6

If you do work overtime or extra hours, what would you say is the one main reason you do so? 18
Tick one box only I never work overtime or extra hours I enjoy my work I need the money I dont want to let down the people I work with So that I can get all my work done Its required as part of my job Some other reason
1

A1

How many years in total have you been working at this workplace? By workplace we mean the site or location at, or from, which you work. 10
Less than 1 year 1 to less than 2 years 2 to less than 5 years 5 to less than 10 years 10 years or more
1 2

3 4

A7
5

Thinking about the type of work you personally do, is it done at this workplace.. . 19
Tick one box only

A2

Is your job permanent, or is it temporary or for a fixed-term?

Permanent Temporary Fixed-term
1

Only by men
11

1 2 3 4 5

Mainly by men Equally by men and women

2

Mainly by women
3

Only by women

A3

How many hours do you usually work each week, including any overtime or extra hours?
Hours per week

12-14

A8

Do you agree, or disagree, with the following statements about your job?
Tick one box in each row Neither agree nor dis agree
3

20-23

A4

How many overtime or extra hours do you usually work each week, whether paid or unpaid? 15-16
If you do not usually work overtime or extra hours, write 0 Overtime/extra hours per week Strongly agree My job requires that I work very hard I never seem to have enough time to get my job done I feel my job is secure in this workplace I worry a lot about my work outside working hours
1

Agree
2

Disagree
4

Strongly dis agree

5

Dont know
6

A5

Are you normally paid or given time off later when you work overtime or extra hours?
Tick one box only I never work overtime or extra hours I am normally paid I normally take time off later I am sometimes paid and sometimes take time off later None of these
1

17

A9

In general, how much influence do you have about the following? 24-26
Tick one box in each row A lot The range of tasks you do in your job The pace at which you work How you do your work
1

B About working here

Some
2

A little
3

None
4

Dont know
5

B1

During the last 12 months, have you discussed any of these with your supervisor/line manager? 31-35
Tick all that apply How you are getting on with your job
1

A10 How satisfied are you with the following aspects of your job?
Tick one box in each row Neither satisfied nor Satisdisfied satisfied
2 3

Your chances of promotion

27-30

Your training needs Your pay

Very satisfied The amount of influence you have over your job The amount of pay you receive The sense of achievement you get from your work The respect you get from supervisors/ line managers
1

Dissatis fied
4

Very dissatis fied

5

None of these Dont know

6

B2

During the last 12 months, how much training have you had, either paid for or organised by your employer? 36
Include only training away from your normal place of work, but it could be on or off the premises. Tick one box only None Less than 1 day 1 to less than 2 days 2 to less than 5 days 5 to less than 10 days 10 days or more
1 2 3 4 5 6

B3

If you personally needed any of these arrangements, would they be available at this workplace? 37-42
Tick all that apply Flexible working hours (flexi-time) Job sharing (sharing a full-time job with someone else) Parental leave Working at or from home in normal working hours Workplace nursery or help with the cost of child care None of these
1

B4

If you needed to take a day off work at short notice, for example to look after a sick family member, how would you usually do it? 43
Tick one box only Use paid leave Take time off and make it up later Go on leave without pay Couldnt take time off Some other way Doesnt apply to me
1 2 3 4 5 6

B7

How often are you and others working here asked by managers for your views on any of the following? 53-57
Tick one box in each row Frequently
1

Never
2

Sometimes
3

Hardly ever
4

Future plans for the workplace Staffing issues, including redundancy Changes to work practices Pay issues Health and safety at work

B5

Do you agree, or disagree, with the following statements about working here? 44-48
Tick one box in each row Neither agree nor disagree
3

B8

How good would you say managers here are at the following?
Tick one box in each row

58-62

Strongly agree Agree I share many of the values of my organisation Managers here are understanding about employees having to meet family responsibilities People working here are encouraged to develop their skills I feel loyal to my organisation I am proud to tell people who I work for
1 2

Disagree
4

Strongly dis agree

5

Dont know
6

Very good
1

Good
2

Neither good nor poor

3

Poor
4

Very Poor
5

Dont know
6

Keeping everyone up to date about proposed changes Providing everyone with the chance to comment on proposed changes Responding to suggestions from employees Dealing with work problems you or others may have Treating employees fairly

B6

How helpful do you find the following in keeping up-to-date about this workplace ?
Tick one box in each row

49-52

B9

In general, how would you describe relations between managers and employees here?
Tick one box only

63

Very helpful
1

Helpful
2

Not very helpful

3

Not at all helpful

4

Not used her e

5

Very good Good Neither good nor poor Poor Very poor Dont know

1 2 3 4 5 6

Notice boards E-mail Workplace newsletter or magazine Meetings of managers and employees

C Representation at work

C4

How would you rate the attitude of managers here towards trade unions?
Tick one box only Managers here... ...are in favour of trade unions ...are neutral about trade unions ...are not in favour of trade unions
1 2 3

69

C1

Are you a member of a trade union or staff association? 64

Tick one box only Yes No, but have been in the past No, have never been a member
1

C5

Is there a trade union or staff association at this workplace?

Yes
1 2

70

2 3

No

Please go to D1

C6 C2 Ideally, who do you think would best represent you in dealing with managers here about the following issues? 65-67
Tick one box in each row Somebody else
4

Do you agree, or disagree, with the following statements about unions or staff associations at this workplace? 71-73
Tick one box in each row Neither agree nor Strongly disagree Agree agree
1 2 3

Myself
1

Trade union
2

Another employee
3

Disagree
4

Strongly disagree
5

Dont know
6

Getting increases in my pay If I wanted to make a complaint about working here If a manager wanted to discipline me

Unions/staff associations here... ...take notice of members problems and complaints ...are taken seriously by management ...make a difference to what it is like to work here

C3

How much contact do you have with trade union or other worker representatives about workplace matters? 68
Tick one box only I am frequently in contact with worker representatives I am occasionally in contact with worker representatives I am never in contact with worker representatives I am a worker representative I do not know any worker representatives
1

D Finally, about yourself

D5

What is the highest educational qualification you hold? 81

Tick one box only CSE or equivalent/ GCSE (grades D-G) O level or equivalent/ GCSE (grades A-C)
1

A level or equivalent

D1

Are you male or female?

Male Female
1 2

74

Degree or equivalent

Postgraduate degree or equivalent None of these

D2

How old are you?

Less than 20 years 20-24 25-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60 or more
1 2 3 4 5 6 7

75

D6

Do you hold any recognised vocational qualifications, such as a trade apprenticeship, NVQs, or a City and Guilds Certificate?
Yes No
1 2

82

D7

Do you have any long-standing health problems or disabilities which limit what you can do at work, at home or in your leisure time? 83
Yes No
1 2

D3

Do you have any dependent children in the following age groups? 76-79
Tick all that apply Children aged 0-4 Children aged 5-11 Children aged 12-18 No dependent children
1

D8
2 3

To which of these groups do you consider you belong? 84-85

Tick one box only White
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Black Caribbean

D4

Which of the following describes your current status? 80

Tick one box only

Black African Black other Indian

Single Widowed Divorced/Separated Living with spouse or partner

Pakistani
2

Bangladeshi
3

Chinese
4

Another ethnic group

D9

Which of the following occupation groups best describes your job at present?
Tick one box only Managers & senior administrators eg general manager, marketing/ sales manager, director of nursing, works manager, bank manager Professional eg teacher, lecturer, lawyer, librarian, engineer, architect, doctor, accountant, social worker Associate professional & technical eg technician, nurse, musician, building inspector, computer programmer, insurance underwriter Clerical & secretarial eg typist, postal clerk, secretary,civil service and local government clerical officer, computer operator, bank clerk Craft & skilled service eg tool maker, electrician, fitter, motor mechanic, sewing machinist, printer, carpenter, baker Personal & protective service eg police officer, bar staff, hairdresser, undertaker, fire fighter, child carer, waiter Sales eg till operator, sales assistant, sales representative, petrol pump attendant Operative and assembly eg assembly line worker, packer, truck driver, taxi or bus driver Other occupations eg cleaner, postal worker, shelf filler, kitchenhand, porter, builders labourer
1

86-87

D11 How much do you get paid for your job here, befor e tax and other deductions are taken out? 90-91
If your pay changes before tax from week to week because of over time, or because you work different hours each week, think about what you earn on average. Less than 50 per week Less than 2,600 per year
1

51 - 80 per week 2,601 - 4,160 per year 81 - 140 per week 4,161 - 7,280 per year

141 - 180 per week 7,281 - 9,360 per year 181 - 220 per week 9,361 - 11,440 per year 221 - 260 per week 11,441 - 13,520 per year
5

261 - 310 per week 13,521 - 16,120 per year 311 - 360 per week 16,121 - 18,720 per year

361 - 430 per week 18,721 - 22,360 per year 431 - 540 per week 22,361 - 28,080 per year 541 - 680 per week 28,081 - 35,360 per year
8

10

11

681 or more per week 35,361 or more per year

12

D12 Do you have any final comments you would like to make about your workplace, or about this questionnaire? 92-93

D10 What are the main work tasks you do in your job? Please describe as fully as possible. 88-89

Thank you for your help

Please now seal the questionnaire in the freepost envelope provided and, either leave it at the workplace collection point, or if you prefer, post it directly yourself. It would be helpful if you could return the completed questionnaire within the next two weeks.