The FDA’s 2019 Working Hours Survey will close on Friday 31 May at 5pm, so please take part and equip us with the data we need to change your working lives.
The survey can be accessed here: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/WorkingHoursSurvey2019
We want to find out more about your workloads and how they affect you. Our 2018 survey demonstrated that an excessive working hours culture was negatively impacting both individuals and departments, and we wish to assess how this situation has developed.
Last year, 82% of respondents linked working excess hours with an adverse effect on their wellbeing. Individuals spoke about their workloads leading to stress, depression and increased blood pressure levels. A Keystone member told us about their breakdown and a Home Office member explained the strain that had been put on their marriage. Meanwhile, 68% of those who took the survey believed excessive workloads effected their departments’ efficiency.
This cannot go on. The FDA is fighting for members to have the resources they need to do their jobs. There needs to be a focus on recruitment and retention, to ensure there is enough staff to complete work and meet deadlines. You deserve to have work-life balance.
Help us help our members, and fill in this year’s survey. It will only take a few minutes, and by doing this you will help us demonstrate how your hours affect you, and work with them to improve working conditions.
This week, the FDA attended the 2026 TUC Congress in Brighton. FDA delegates spoke to and moved motions on a range of topics, including the review of the civil service, supporting effective management, accountability and safe contracting in the NHS, and the importance of an evidence-led approach to regulation.
Yesterday, FDA staff and reps attended the 2026 Fast Stream annual Base Camp, welcoming this year’s new joiners to the scheme and sharing the benefits of FDA membership with them.
The FDA’s National Officer for Northern Ireland Robert Murtagh has written to Speaker of the Assembly, Edwin Poots, asking him to remind MLAs that when officials appear before the Assembly, impartiality must not be brought into question.
