INDUSTRIAL DISEASE
By Mickey Skidmore, AMHSW, ACSW, FAASW
Yeah, now the work force is disgusted, downs tools, walks
Innocence is injured, experience just talks
Everyone seeks damages, everyone agrees that
These are classic symptoms of a monetary squeeze
On ITV and BBC they talk about the curse
Philosophy is useless, theology is worse
History boils over, there’s an economics freeze
Sociologists invent words that mean “industrial disease”
In recent “Perspective” editorials I have alluded to or touch upon some of the aspects that I feel are indicators of or contributors to a toxic work culture in Australia. This month’s editorial will highlight this in a more straight-forward manner.
In 1982 the popular pop/rock band Dire Straits included a track on their “Love over Gold” album offering a satirical take on the decline in the British manufacturing industry and the frustrations of the modern 9-to-5 working routine in the early 1980s. Recognition of similar plights in the United States were also referred to as occupational disease resulting from an illness or medical condition caused by working conditions, long-term exposure to harmful substances, or repetitive job duties.
In my work both as a therapist, and providing clinical supervision, I have heard countless stories about political corruption, incompetence, hostile work environments, blatant prejudice and racism, nepotism, and hypocrisy regarding rules, regulations and policies within both public and private organisations (NGO’s). Far too many to chalk up to disgruntled employees with an axe to grind.
In my own work experiences I have encountered predominant attitudes from both laymen and professionals that only psychologists are qualified to provide counselling or psychotherapy. My observation — even today — is that many Social Workers in the field today struggle to clearly articulate what exactly it is that they do. Moreover, in health settings where Social Workers are meant to be part of a multi-disciplinary team, many disciplines (physicians, psychologists, nurses, and others) are mostly clueless regarding what Social Workers actually do or what they contribute to patient care. More often than not, in health organisations operating within a medical model approach — anything that is not clearly medical is handed over to the Social Worker — whether it is appropriate or not. Perhaps most distressing and concerning of all however, is that most of these professional are also disinterested in learning what the Social Work role entails.
With all the complexities and nuance of human service organisations, with multiple stakeholders an competing interests, Social Workers are uniquely qualified to offer leadership in navigating the ethical mine fields in today’s healthcare landscape. Despite being the highest credentialed and perhaps most experienced Clinical Social Worker within Liverpool hospital during my employment, time and again — in word, deed and action — I was told that Liverpool hospital was not interested in the leadership that I had to offer. Without rehashing the numerous war stories, suffice it say that after just shy of a decade, in hindsight, I often refer to myself as a surviving refugee of the NSW health system.
Despite considerable reflection of this, feeling that I held a good grasp of bureaucratic systems — knowing how to cultivate effective change from within, I was repeatedly confounded when I hit the wall. Finally, I had the insight that I was basing my efforts on the assumption that I was dealing with a massive, bureaucratic healthcare system, when in fact I was being chewed up and spit out by a massive, bureaucratic political system, masquerading as a healthcare system.
This insight helped me to better understand what I (any many others) went through. And it highlighted my awareness as a Social Work educator (preparing SW students for practice) that the training and education we provide does not adequately prepare students for the role that politics plays in every institutional, social and personal system that we inter-relate with.
After further musings about this, I am beginning to formulate an emerging viewpoint about this at a macro level. Drawing from the principles of Critical Realism, I am beginning to bring into focus and articulate a view that there are an increasing number of symptoms, if you will, that reflect a growing discontent with the vocational structure and culture in Australia. Furthermore, the energy, the elements, the fabric or the glue that holds the dynamics of a dysfunctional and toxic work environment in place I believe is powerfully aligned with politics, invisible and Industrial by nature.
As it relates to Social Work, I have stated many times before that nearly all of our systems are broken (or at least fundamentally flawed). And while we offer some measure of limited relief the profession has not been successful in its ability to significantly move the needle very much on many of Australia’s vexing social problems (i.e. homelessness; poverty; domestic violence; suicide; mental health — just to mention a few).
Sociologist have determined long ago that capitalism (despite its potential advantages over other economic frameworks) actually contributes to sustaining and even widening income inequality. Yet, governments continue with this economic approach (perhaps because other economic models have even more downsides? for their societies. And while money is often at the centre of many things, one has to wonder to what degree this contributes to the already powerful invisible forces of Industrial Disease.
Imagine what awaits us in the future with the impending threat of AI taking over so many jobs. How will this effect or impact the already dysfunctional and toxic work environment for so many Australians? Without work … without jobs … how will we earn money for food, clothing, housing, travel or entertainment? … but even more importantly … how will this impact our identities? … our self-confidence? … our sense of purpose?
Perhaps AI will force a transformational crisis that makes the existing vocational/work environment no longer, or less relevant. Assuming that AI doesn’t destroy the human race altogether …
