Congress motions

Motion

Motion title

Mental health and hidden disabilities in the workplace

Session

2010-2011

Meeting link

Annual Congress

Meeting date

30 May 2011

Status

Passed

Motion

75

Motion text

UCU members are increasingly experiencing anxiety, depression and stress. Many are scared to discuss their impairment at work because of the negative reaction they will get from their employers and work colleagues. This concealment impacts further on their health as employers challenge sickness absences or changes in performance.
UCU needs to protect and support the mental health of members. We need to create workplaces where mental health issues are addressed and supported appropriately. Members need to know their rights and new rights under the Equality Act 2010 and what this means in practical terms.
It is crucial that members with mental health conditions feel acknowledged and supported by their union and that their conditions can be declared and de-stigmatised particularly as the potential for discrimination when it comes to redundancy is grave.
Whilst acknowledging the work already undertaken by the Disabled Members Committee to effect this, Congress believes more needs to be done to identify the different types of conditions that exist in society, and that additional guidance needs to be developed to address the problems facing members with 'hidden disabilities' such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, autism, OCD etc. Guidance also needs to address problems arising from rules around disclosure of these conditions.
Congress calls upon the NEC to:
1. establish a mental health working group to address representation of those with mental health conditions and hidden disabilities on the relevant committees to increase awareness comprehensively of mental health conditions
2. publicise and disseminate the new UCU guidance on mental health
3. negotiate workplace policies that support mental health including disability leave agreements
4. tackle workplace cultures which inhibit disclosure of mental health as an impairment.

Proposing body

Composite

Amended

No

Allocated to

Equality committee

Notes