Ms Ashley Connolly:

We recognise that our members work in a very problematic culture in which they feel undervalued, not recognised and not respected. We recently adopted a new dignity at work policy but, as outlined by my colleagues earlier, we need awareness campaigns, preventative measures and adequate training. There needs to be a stepping up of employers' duty of care. Our members have experienced the grievance procedure as quite a lengthy process, which is not acceptable. It is very clear in that policy what the timeframes are, but they are not adhered to. That in itself is an additional stress on somebody who is feeling vulnerable in the workplace and sometimes fearful going into it. It is a cultural problem and it is also led by the stresses within the workplace.