ATC survey - UK
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ATC survey - UK
Hi,
I'm interested in speaking to ATC officers about a survey regarding working practices.
One of the findings of this survey suggested that 75% of ATC officers are not stressed at work.
Which leaves 25% who might be.
Considering the responsibility on ATC and the rise in air traffic (by 2020 16 million flights per year) I for one would feel stressed.
In fact I'm stressed just thinking about it.
If anyone has a copy of it I'd be most obliged.
Note:
NATS&Prospect have refused to give me a copy...I wonder why?
Ian
I'm interested in speaking to ATC officers about a survey regarding working practices.
One of the findings of this survey suggested that 75% of ATC officers are not stressed at work.
Which leaves 25% who might be.
Considering the responsibility on ATC and the rise in air traffic (by 2020 16 million flights per year) I for one would feel stressed.
In fact I'm stressed just thinking about it.
If anyone has a copy of it I'd be most obliged.
Note:
NATS&Prospect have refused to give me a copy...I wonder why?
Ian
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Considering NATS have said they would be more open/transparent why not.
If ATC officers are stressed or maybe there are other issues they have held back.
I believe it's in all our interests they should be addressed or made public to put pressure on management.
If ATC officers are stressed or maybe there are other issues they have held back.
I believe it's in all our interests they should be addressed or made public to put pressure on management.
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Berkshire, UK
Age: 79
Posts: 8,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In around 35 years as an ATCO I never really felt stressed at work; in fact I was often at my calmest whehn working. Among my colleagues I knew of many who were the same and others who got badly stressed. Other things do stress me - like public speaking, for example. Standing up in front of only half a dozen people absolutely terrifies me to bits and I cannot begin to understand how schoolteachers manage.. I also get extremely stressed over family health. Going on holiday freaks me out, until I am on the aeroplane..
Stress affects different epople in different ways. An AME explained it to me once by saying that when I was working I knew I was in control and confident of handling any situation. In the other situations I mentioned there are other factors beyond my control and that's what stresses me out....
Stress affects different epople in different ways. An AME explained it to me once by saying that when I was working I knew I was in control and confident of handling any situation. In the other situations I mentioned there are other factors beyond my control and that's what stresses me out....
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Heathrow Director.
I take on board what you say and agree it's different horses for different courses.
ATC officers in this country as far as I'm concerned is fantastic.
But getting back to this survey, 25% have indicated they are stressed. I'm also told that NATS have been over subscribed by employees wanting to take early retirement...all of this just might be linked?
I take on board what you say and agree it's different horses for different courses.
ATC officers in this country as far as I'm concerned is fantastic.
But getting back to this survey, 25% have indicated they are stressed. I'm also told that NATS have been over subscribed by employees wanting to take early retirement...all of this just might be linked?
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have never personally felt stressed when actually controlling, as the buzz I get from doing the job outweighs anything that could stress me. 
However, as I am sure many others will agree, there are many things in the work place (not just in ATC) that can cause an employee to feel stressed. I am sure that you will find that any reports of employee stress in ATC are not related to doing the actual job, but are related to the workplace environment, management/colleague attitudes and practices, bullying and harrasment (thankfully rare these days) and indeed personal or financial problems that everyone has to face from time to time.
I don't think you will find any ground breaking revelations that stress suffered by Air Traffic Controllers is any different to that suffered by employees working elsewhere. In fact due to the strict licencing process we are subject to, and the fact that your mates at work can pick up when you are "not yourself" before you can, makes sure that stress rarely makes it into the operational areas.
I believe that stress is subjective, and the label that ATC is "stressful" is actually a misunderstanding of the job. ATC is challenging and requires skill and a certain type of persona to deal with it. However the same can be said for being a nurse, doctor, road worker, taxi driver, accountant etc. Each of these vocations could be classed as "stressful" in their own way.
Stress has been described to me as a natural human defence reaction due to exposure to a particular set of difficult or undesireable circumstances. When you remove or alter those circumstances, the stress dissapears or becomes less.
Perhaps this should be the approach more people and managers take toward stress as opposed to typecasting it as an "illness", "problem" or "condition" that one suffers from, thereby laying the blame at the employees feet.
Would be interested to see others thoughts on the matter though!!
However, as I am sure many others will agree, there are many things in the work place (not just in ATC) that can cause an employee to feel stressed. I am sure that you will find that any reports of employee stress in ATC are not related to doing the actual job, but are related to the workplace environment, management/colleague attitudes and practices, bullying and harrasment (thankfully rare these days) and indeed personal or financial problems that everyone has to face from time to time.
I don't think you will find any ground breaking revelations that stress suffered by Air Traffic Controllers is any different to that suffered by employees working elsewhere. In fact due to the strict licencing process we are subject to, and the fact that your mates at work can pick up when you are "not yourself" before you can, makes sure that stress rarely makes it into the operational areas.
I believe that stress is subjective, and the label that ATC is "stressful" is actually a misunderstanding of the job. ATC is challenging and requires skill and a certain type of persona to deal with it. However the same can be said for being a nurse, doctor, road worker, taxi driver, accountant etc. Each of these vocations could be classed as "stressful" in their own way.
Stress has been described to me as a natural human defence reaction due to exposure to a particular set of difficult or undesireable circumstances. When you remove or alter those circumstances, the stress dissapears or becomes less.
Perhaps this should be the approach more people and managers take toward stress as opposed to typecasting it as an "illness", "problem" or "condition" that one suffers from, thereby laying the blame at the employees feet.
Would be interested to see others thoughts on the matter though!!
More than just an ATCO
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Up someone's nose
Age: 75
Posts: 1,768
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
No occcupation listed
Journo Alert???
Lon More, Here before Pontius was a Pilot or Mortus a Rigger - 55 and taken compulsory retirement
Journo Alert???
Lon More, Here before Pontius was a Pilot or Mortus a Rigger - 55 and taken compulsory retirement
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Lon more,
To counter argue your post.
1: I'm not a journalist
2: I'm not on here to get ANYONE into TROUBLE
3: My research is for public consumption
By that I mean if anyone is interested in my findings in to flying are interesting they can have a copy of them.
Ian
OPS:
Again I can\'t argue with your reply.
But the basic facts/statistics still remain. 75% of ATCO are not stressed this leaves 25%
If 25% of my colleagues had worries about what they do or where they work shouldn\'t we know why?
To counter argue your post.
1: I'm not a journalist
2: I'm not on here to get ANYONE into TROUBLE
3: My research is for public consumption
By that I mean if anyone is interested in my findings in to flying are interesting they can have a copy of them.
Ian
OPS:
Again I can\'t argue with your reply.
But the basic facts/statistics still remain. 75% of ATCO are not stressed this leaves 25%
If 25% of my colleagues had worries about what they do or where they work shouldn\'t we know why?
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Around
Posts: 341
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If 25% of my colleagues had worries about what they do or where they work shouldn\'t we know why?
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Finding Out on 121.50
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't know how you guys do it without getting stressed.
I have visited a couple of Towers and one LARS service and you guys have the most excellent minds to work in "3D" all the time off a flat screen.
I would hate to play any of you at chess!
I get stressed just trying to get a call in t times.
Thanks for the great service
I have visited a couple of Towers and one LARS service and you guys have the most excellent minds to work in "3D" all the time off a flat screen.
I would hate to play any of you at chess!
I get stressed just trying to get a call in t times.
Thanks for the great service
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: USA
Age: 66
Posts: 2,183
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
When I was in the throes of divorce I loved coming in to work.That was the ONLY place in my life where I was in control . The stress levels brought about by the woman formerly known as my wife and her rottweiler....sorry lawyer were phenomenal. The stress in this job comes from external forces...those over which we have little or no control ...eg contracts ...working practises...the job itself is (as far as I am concerned) not dreadfully stressful ....there you go ..just my 2 cents worth
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the reply guys.
As you've all indicated stress comes in many forms.
From our personal lives through to our working lives.
Rodan, In response to you're particular line "why should you's be different" I don't consider ATC officers to be different, why should I. I'm sure your all normal people, leading normal lives outside work. Believe me, I'm not being derogatory when I say that.
But let's be honest you guys do an incredible job with so much responsibility. looking at other sites and having spoke to professionals involved in the industry. If something goes wrong it's either PILOT ERROR OR MISTAKES BY ATC OR SOME COMPUTER SYSTEM FAILURE. Which is unfair as the people I spoke to pointed out there could be many factors which are not taken in to consideration.
But I'm wandering off the beaten track here.
The point remains. 25% of ATC officers feel stressed at work and NATS have seemingly been over subscribed by people wanting early retirement....WHY?
As you've all indicated stress comes in many forms.
From our personal lives through to our working lives.
Rodan, In response to you're particular line "why should you's be different" I don't consider ATC officers to be different, why should I. I'm sure your all normal people, leading normal lives outside work. Believe me, I'm not being derogatory when I say that.
But let's be honest you guys do an incredible job with so much responsibility. looking at other sites and having spoke to professionals involved in the industry. If something goes wrong it's either PILOT ERROR OR MISTAKES BY ATC OR SOME COMPUTER SYSTEM FAILURE. Which is unfair as the people I spoke to pointed out there could be many factors which are not taken in to consideration.
But I'm wandering off the beaten track here.
The point remains. 25% of ATC officers feel stressed at work and NATS have seemingly been over subscribed by people wanting early retirement....WHY?
Moderator
Join Date: Jul 1997
Location: Europe
Posts: 3,228
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Why ??
Because we have a pretty good early retirement scheme which was negotiated for us by the union.
A nice big lump sum to do with as you please, a not inconsiderable amount monthly in pension, and no more having to get up for early mornings or do nights.
Nothing to do with stress, more like having a lot more time to do things you want to be doing and still be financially comfortable. That's my guess.
Because we have a pretty good early retirement scheme which was negotiated for us by the union.
A nice big lump sum to do with as you please, a not inconsiderable amount monthly in pension, and no more having to get up for early mornings or do nights.
Nothing to do with stress, more like having a lot more time to do things you want to be doing and still be financially comfortable. That's my guess.
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ?
Posts: 335
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm just intrigued as to why you NEED to find out the answer.....
OK so according to your report 25% are stressed - big deal
why not concentrate on the 75% that aren't and for once lets see a report that actually highlights the good and demanding work that ATC'rs do every day!
And if nobody's going to ask - public consumption - where can we read this report once its written????
so come on if your not a journo tell us who your writing it for?
OK so according to your report 25% are stressed - big deal
why not concentrate on the 75% that aren't and for once lets see a report that actually highlights the good and demanding work that ATC'rs do every day!
And if nobody's going to ask - public consumption - where can we read this report once its written????
so come on if your not a journo tell us who your writing it for?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wow Tired Boy,
You sound like an irate manager?????
I'm doing extensive research (I'm a professional researcher) in to all aspects of flying. So far as I've highlighted before ATC and NATS come out wonderful. But the more sceptical people I've spoke to question the 25%
It's great there are 75% of ATC people happy. It's fantastic the union have negotiated early retirement.
What's clear from this post...is that management have not let ATC people know the total findings of this survey (Not my survey)
As for my findings: I'll gladly publish them on this site first.
You sound like an irate manager?????
I'm doing extensive research (I'm a professional researcher) in to all aspects of flying. So far as I've highlighted before ATC and NATS come out wonderful. But the more sceptical people I've spoke to question the 25%
It's great there are 75% of ATC people happy. It's fantastic the union have negotiated early retirement.
What's clear from this post...is that management have not let ATC people know the total findings of this survey (Not my survey)
As for my findings: I'll gladly publish them on this site first.
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ?
Posts: 335
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sorry to disappoint - not a manager just irrate 
My point was more that you had avoided answering the question about your intentions.
If your report is for the benefit of the general public then i can't understand why you will not post who you are doing the research for.
Once again you answered with the same old retoric
75% v 25% and that led to someone else asking a more direct question about who is paying for your research!
After all in every profession i'm sure that the stats are the same (as someone has already pointed out!) and you know what they say about stats!
But all in all, i'll be glad to read your findings as and when you post them!
My point was more that you had avoided answering the question about your intentions.
If your report is for the benefit of the general public then i can't understand why you will not post who you are doing the research for.
Once again you answered with the same old retoric
75% v 25% and that led to someone else asking a more direct question about who is paying for your research! After all in every profession i'm sure that the stats are the same (as someone has already pointed out!) and you know what they say about stats!
But all in all, i'll be glad to read your findings as and when you post them!
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Mainland Europe
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ATC is only stressful during training (college and unit) when you have to learn to operate to whatever standard/quirks your mentor may have. The training is tough and the standards are very, very high. And yes, I had a few quirks I'm sorry to say.
But once a trainee has his/her validation then the job is simply superb. Where else can you go to the same place of work and do the same job and yet have it different every day? I always compare ATC to golf, you are really just trying to do better each time.
Also, it is a service industry, I firmly belive the human persona gets a kick out of providing a good service. You can tell from the pilots voice if you've done well (or not!) and I always got a buzz from a busy session where I was able to provide a good service.
Stressful - no! What other job allows you to go to work without having to think of what you need to do to make your product more attractive/sell more/keep the company alive etc? I just talk to aircraft, many or few, then unplug and go home and not have to think about work until the next shift comes round. I think the average car salesman, or anyone in industry that has to plan and create a market, or with a job that is susceptible to market forces (like a slump) that impacts their salaries and ability to pay the mortgage, has far more stress in their lives than any controller.
But once a trainee has his/her validation then the job is simply superb. Where else can you go to the same place of work and do the same job and yet have it different every day? I always compare ATC to golf, you are really just trying to do better each time.
Also, it is a service industry, I firmly belive the human persona gets a kick out of providing a good service. You can tell from the pilots voice if you've done well (or not!) and I always got a buzz from a busy session where I was able to provide a good service.
Stressful - no! What other job allows you to go to work without having to think of what you need to do to make your product more attractive/sell more/keep the company alive etc? I just talk to aircraft, many or few, then unplug and go home and not have to think about work until the next shift comes round. I think the average car salesman, or anyone in industry that has to plan and create a market, or with a job that is susceptible to market forces (like a slump) that impacts their salaries and ability to pay the mortgage, has far more stress in their lives than any controller.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Jesus wept guys.
You'd think I was having a pop at ATC officers....I'm not
I'm being funded by a public body and don't want to say much more than that.
However the thread which is running through this discussion seems to indicate that people have not seen this survey.
That in it's self is interesting.
I agree about stats argument as well. they can be used to make things look good or look bad.
But that's exactly where I'm coming from...I want to know if people in ATC are really happy with there job lot...and if 75% are happy,great.
But the minority should have there say as well. That 25% might have issues/concerns the other 75% don't have.
As an active trade unionist for many years I've heard all the management jargon and seen all the so called stats before...
It don't impress me much.
You'd think I was having a pop at ATC officers....I'm not
I'm being funded by a public body and don't want to say much more than that.
However the thread which is running through this discussion seems to indicate that people have not seen this survey.
That in it's self is interesting.
I agree about stats argument as well. they can be used to make things look good or look bad.
But that's exactly where I'm coming from...I want to know if people in ATC are really happy with there job lot...and if 75% are happy,great.
But the minority should have there say as well. That 25% might have issues/concerns the other 75% don't have.
As an active trade unionist for many years I've heard all the management jargon and seen all the so called stats before...
It don't impress me much.