Memorandum from the Public & Commercial
Services Union (PCS) House of Commons Branch
REST ROOM
FACILITIES
1. The PCS believe it is incumbent upon
the House Management to provide adequate rest room facilities.
So many staff today spend hours in front of a computer screen
without recourse to a room to "wind down" during their
lunch/rest break.
2. When we say rest room facilities we mean
somewhere free of noise via electronic apparatus, ie television,
radio, personal music players of any sort, the dreaded mobile
phones, plus laptops and any other equipment that will invade
another person's immediate/local space.
3. Some House departments are better than
others in providing rest room facilities. The Clerk's Department
staff in the Main Building do not have any facilities whatsoever
when it comes to being away from their desks for a non-working
period. We are talking of 80 plus staff~, some of which either
have their lunch/rest break at their desks, or compound the catering
facilities problem by going unnecessarily to the overcrowded cafeterias
and spending the bare minimum in order to get away from their
workstation.
4. The police have facilities most House
staff could only dream about, when set against what is available
to departmental staff.
5. This is no reflection on the good relationship
the PCS has with the Clerk's Department Management. We appreciate
accommodation is at a premium in the Palace.
6. It is not the intention of the PCS to
quote the various health and safety acts on this issue. All we
are seeking is best practice and consistency across all House
departments, for the benefit of all staff.
30 March 2006
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