"I think there are a lot of people struggling in this industry, but nobody wants to admit it. The company says we can go to them with problems, but if I said to my boss that I was stressed, he might demote me.
"It is not uncommon for people to come into the office at 7am and leave at 7pm. I work about 60 hours a week but don't get paid overtime 鈥� it's the norm. I also work some Saturdays. I don't take all my holidays because it's not as if the job can be put on a shelf while I'm away. And holidays are stressful because I know that when I get back there will be all sorts of problems for me to resolve. I've always got my mobile with me 鈥� I don't switch off from my job. The whole of last month I had a headache.
"The industry has a fraction of the staff it had 10 years ago. People are being stretched more and more but no one would say they are not coping. Construction sites are cheery places to work 鈥� you wouldn't want to admit that you were failing. But we have no real union, no effective representation.
I think there are a lot of people struggling in this industry, but nobody wants to admit it. I鈥檝e had a headache for the last month
"It wouldn't be so bad if we were properly rewarded but we aren't. We get paid a lot less than people in comparable professions. I miss out on time with my wife and children, but they don't see any financial benefit.
Most people stay in construction for the love of it, but the work is taking a lot out of us.
Stress
- 1
- 2Currently reading
Suffering in silence: One man's story
- 3
