Go to content
  • Jobs
  • Staff
  • Current Students
  • Alumni
  • About Us
Bedfordshire Uni Logo
Call Us
Enquire about a Course
Open days
Main
Jobs Staff Current Students Alumni About Us
Applying to University
Courses Postgraduate study International Applicants Higher and Degree Apprenticeships Open Days Our Campuses Fees, Funding & Scholarship How to Apply for a course Help hub Teachers and Advisors
Applying to University
Courses Postgraduate study International Applicants Higher and Degree Apprenticeships Open Days Our Campuses Fees, Funding & Scholarship How to Apply for a course Help hub Teachers and Advisors
University Life
University News Alumni Accommodation Business Services Careers And Employabilty Community and Faith Graduation Research New Students Student support Sport
University Life
University News Alumni Accommodation Business Services Careers And Employabilty Community and Faith Graduation Research New Students Student support Sport
Campuses
Luton Bedford Aylesbury Milton Keynes Putteridge Bury Campus Tours
Campuses
Luton Bedford Aylesbury Milton Keynes Putteridge Bury Campus Tours
Faculties, Schools & Departments
University of Bedfordshire Business School Faculty of Creative Arts, Technologies & Science Faculty of Education & Sport Faculty of Health & Social Sciences Centre for Academic Partnerships Centre for Learning Excellence The Language Centre
Faculties, Schools & Departments
University of Bedfordshire Business School Faculty of Creative Arts, Technologies & Science Faculty of Education & Sport Faculty of Health & Social Sciences Centre for Academic Partnerships Centre for Learning Excellence The Language Centre
  • News and Events
  • Latest news
  • Proud To Be Beds
  • 2021
  • 2020 Archive
  • 2019 Archive
  • 2018 Archive
  • 2017 Archive
  • 2016 Archive
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
      • University of Bedfordshire opens a Forest School
      • Students take second place in national business challenge
      • Students must prepare early to succeed in the graduate job market
      • Strengthening child protection
      • Stigma and shame stopping over 50s drinkers seeking help
      • Soccer students cross the pond to Bedfordshire
      • Presenteeism in prison officers is a health and safety risk
      • Law clinic reopens
      • International film award for University academic
      • How to meet that UCAS deadline
      • Education transforms lives
      • CBeebies star gives masterclass
      • Bedfordshire students TV takeover
      • Academics face email overload
      • Presenteeism in prison officers is a health and safety risk
      • Stigma and shame stopping over 50s drinkers seeking help
      • Design an app without coding
      • Local Employability Events for Year 10 students
      • Young Carers begin project with the NNCO
  • 2015 Archive
  • 2014 Archive
  • Case studies
  • Upcoming Events
  • Contact us

Presenteeism in prison officers is a health and safety risk

More than half of prison officers feel pressure to go into work while unwell, with serious implications for their health and the safe running of prisons.

That is the finding presented today, Thursday 7 January 2015, to the annual conference of the British Psychological Society’s Division of Occupational Psychology in Nottingham by Gail Kinman Professor of Occupational Health Psychology at the University of Bedfordshire.

The research, conducted with Dr Andrew Clements and Dr Jacqui Hart, also from the University, involved 1682 prison officers from across the UK completing questionnaires about working while unwell and the reasons they may do this.  Levels of job demands, control and support at work and job-related burnout were also assessed.

The results showed that 84% of prison officers feel pressurised to work while unwell at least “sometimes”, whereas more than half “always” experience such pressure.  Staff shortages, pressure from management, fear of letting colleagues down and feelings of job insecurity were the main explanations provided for presenteeism.

Prison officers who found their work more demanding, and who lacked control and support from managers, were the most likely to work while sick.  This had serious implications for health as officers who continued to work when unwell on a regular basis were typically more burned out.

Professor Kinman said: “The findings of our research have serious implications for the health of prison officers and for the safe running of prisons.

“The number of prison officers has reduced dramatically and number of violent prisoner incidents is increasing rapidly. Although organisations may see presenteeism as a short-term solution to maintain safe staffing levels, it is considerably more costly long-term.

“Prison officers who continued to work while sick were more likely to be emotionally exhausted and have cynical attitudes towards prisoners. They were also more likely to worry about work when ‘off the job’.  The implications of the findings for the safe running of prisons are clear. Improved staffing levels and support from managers should help reduce presenteeism and the subsequent risks to staff and prisoners.”

ENDS

The Division of Occupational Psychology annual conference takes place from the 6 to 8 January 2015 at the East Midlands Conference Centre, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RJ.

See the conference website for the full programme of the DOP annual conference [PDF]


data-screen-name="uoblibrary" data-theme="light" data-chrome="noscrollbar transparent nofooter noheader noborders">

Contact Us

By telephone
During office hours
(Monday-Friday 08:30-17:00)
+44 (0)1234 400 400

Outside office hours
(Campus Watch)
+44 (0)1582 74 39 89

By email
admission@beds.ac.uk
(admissions)
international@beds.ac.uk 
(international)
sid@beds.ac.uk (student support)
help@beds.ac.uk (registration)
erasmus@beds.ac.uk (exchanges)

By post
University of Bedfordshire
University Square
Luton
Bedfordshire
UK, LU1 3JU

Courses

Campus Tours

Campuses

International

Research

About us

Jobs

Student Privacy Policy

Disclaimer

BREO

University switchboard
+44 (0)1234 400 400
Course enquiries
0300 3300 703

Copyright © 2021 University of Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire University Logo
News and Events » 2016 Archive » » Presenteeism in prison officers is a health and safety risk
Top

Useful Information

SiD (Student Information Desk)
Term Dates
Timetable
WiFi on Campus

Student Life

Disability & Dyslexia
Money Advice
MyBedsLife
PAL
Students' Union

Public Information

Academic Information (for students)
Academic Regulations
Accessibility
Disclaimer
Document Search
Modern Slavery Statement
Office for Students (OfS)
Student Privacy Policy
Quality Assurance

Quick Links

BREO
E-Vision
Jobs
Library
MyBedsLife - login
SiD Online
Sustainability

Contact Us

Mon-Fri 08:30-17:00
+44 (0)1234 400 400
Outside office hours
+44 (0)1582 743 989
Course enquiries
0300 3300 703
study@beds.ac.uk
UK/EU course enq.
international@beds.ac.uk
International course enq.

University of Bedfordshire
University Square
Luton, LU1 3JU
United Kingdom

Ignore
Ignore
Copyright © 2021 University of Bedfordshire