The significant impacts of workplace change on medical scientists in Victoria

Abstract

Pathology in Victoria has undergone considerable change in the last decade. The need for productivity gains, the effects of downsizing and budget cuts, alongside the effects of casemix funding, privatisation and the advent of Enterprise Bargaining Agreements (EBAs) have all placed considerable strain on medical scientists.This paper outlines the impacts of workplace change on medical scientists in Victoria, the most significant workplace stressors on medical scientists today, and what medical scientists feel needs to happen to enable them to regain control over their working lives.The findings from key informant interviews and focus groups of medical scientists show that radical changes in service requirements have occurred. The restructuring of laboratories to 'core' business and subsequent changes in client expectations has impacted on the standards of service delivery in pathology. These changes have resulted in considerable stress as the scientists struggle to cope with work intensification, increases in rostered work during 'unsociable' hours, the lack of control over change, and challenges to their professionalism as they feel that quality standards are not being met.