Stress at work

Today's working environment is adding new forms of stress to employees - and their managers have a 'duty of care' to support them... or be open to claims under Health & Safety legislation.

Over the last few years there has been much research on stress at work. Conclusions show that employees who feel they have no control or autonomy over their job are likely to develop a stress-related illness. Add to that the sight of people around them being made redundant and, guess what, their thoughts are likely to be - am I next?

If employees can prove they are stressed as a result of what is happening around them, you could potentially have a claim on your hands. Managers have a duty of care, not only for physical safety, but also for mental safety at work. Managers need to be aware of their own stress levels and how to manage stress and changes in behaviour in their staff.

Blue collar workers have historically not had as much control over their jobs as their managers, but that's changing. As we are seeing on a daily basis, jobs are insecure - and it doesn't matter whether you are on the shop floor or on the top floor! The feelings of a lack of control over your job are moving up the organisational ladder.

Many people these days, irrespective of their position in an organisation, see jobs as being insecure - jobs are no longer for life. This is a major potential source of stress - and therefore of illness or reduced productivity.

If you have concerns about how any of your staff are handling the current economic climate or, if you are making redundancies, spare a thought for those left behind and the effect on them. Maybe a day out of the office learning how to manage this situation on a Stress Management programme would provide a much appreciated show of support - and reduce potential claims.

For more information on Stress Management courses, please email us or call us on 01425 471597 .