MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING MINDFUL MANAGEMENT
It’s estimated that mental health problems cost the UK economy £118bn annually, with stress and other mental health issues being the biggest cause of absence from work. This is why it is so important for employers to prioritise the mental health of their employees – not only to keep workers well in the workplace but also to alleviate the significant financial burdens associated with mental health problems.
UNDERSTANDING THE RESPONSIBILITIES
OF EMPLOYERS Many countries have laws ensuring that employers take practical measures to protect people's health and safety at work. Although there is no specific law about managing work-related stress, there is an implied duty within the Health and Safety at Work Act.
Workers in the UK have the right to report their employer if they feel that the employer is neglecting their duties to manage work-related stress. Where an employer does not take sufficient action, a regulatory body may investigate.
Those in leadership roles are crucial to managing workplace stress. Not only is a line manager more likely to see firsthand the issues contributing to stress but they are also responsible for handling their team's sickness, bereavement, conflict, and other personal issues. If these are not effectively managed, they can all negatively impact the employee's health and wellbeing.
HSE and NEBOSH worked together on the Managing Stress at Work book to recommend ways in which organisations in Great Britain can better manage employee wellbeing. The book covers the following actions:
● An organisation committing to managing workplace stress as an organisation.
● Identifying, assessing, managing and reviewing the risk of stress.
● Monitoring improvements to workplace stress management.
● Providing training on management. ● Providing training on managing workplace stress.
● Consulting workers on workplace changes that could contribute to stress.
● Any external resources available to help reduce and prevent workplace stress.
WHAT CAN ORGANISATIONS PUT IN PLACE TO
BETTER MANAGE EMPLOYEES’ WELLBEING? Before implementing anything to help manage wellbeing, a risk assessment should be in place to identify the possible causes of stress in the workplace and to identify actions to mitigate those causes as well as understand how best to manage any stress identified.
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The first thing to implement would be primary interventions to address the root cause of stress, such as policy changes to help prevent future issues. For example, implementing flexible working can help employees who are struggling with work-life balance. As of 6 April 2024, employees can ask their employer for changes to how, when and where they work from their first day of employment.
A great thing to implement is some kind of employee assistance programme (EAP). An EAP is a workplace benefit that is designed to assist employees in resolving issues that could impact their lives. An EAP is an employer-paid scheme that gives their employees 24- hour access to confidential support and advice.
An occupational health service can also be an asset for both employees and employers. They promote health and wellbeing to ensure a positive relationship between individuals’ health and work. Working with an occupational health service offers qualified support for both employees and employers, it also helps organisations to meet their legislative requirements as well as reduce business risk.
Loneliness can be big factor in affecting a person's mental health. Some organisations offer an employee ‘social team’ who organise a variety of social events throughout the year. The allocation of a budget each year allows the social team to offer a range of opportunities. Employees have the chance to get out, or to get involved with different activities with their colleagues. It is also an opportunity to try new activities.
Employers should manage wellbeing and mental health as part of their ‘duty of care’ to support employees’ health, safety and wellbeing. Prioritising employees' mental health and wellbeing is important because it leads to improved morale, job satisfaction, reduced turnover rates and directly impacts job performance and overall productivity. You are also creating a supportive workplace where employees feel valued.
https://shop.nebosh.org.uk/collections/course-books/products/nebosh-hse-certificate-in-managing-stress-at-work www.nebosh.org.uk/home www.tomorrowshs.com
Would you like to read more about managing stress in the workplace? The NEBOSH HSE Managing Stress at Work book is available to buy on the NEBOSH shop here.
NEBOSH provides expert advice on how organisations can support the mental health and wellbeing of their employees.
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