N88. Stress at Work

Policy Statement

Many people find that pressure at work can be stimulating and improve their performance, but when work pressures become excessive, it can lead to feelings of stress. Stress can have adverse effects on both mental and physical well-being, leading to illness, anxiety or unhappiness and feeling unable to cope.

Everyone is different and the threshold for becoming stressed will vary from individual to individual and also depend on what is going on in their life outside work. However, {{org_field_name}} has a policy of ensuring that no employee is made ill by a stressful workplace.

{{org_field_name}} is committed to protecting the health, safety and welfare of its employees. {{org_field_name}} recognises that work-related stress can damage the mental and physical health of its employees and that work-related stress is a health and safety issue which must be taken seriously.

This policy will apply to everyone in {{org_field_name}} including temporary staff.

All staff are responsible for ensuring that this policy is implemented.

Definition of Stress

The Health and Safety Executive defines stress as “the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressure or other types of demand placed on them”. This makes an important distinction between pressure, which can be a positive state if managed correctly, and stress which can be detrimental to health.

Stress can affect anyone and is not a sign of weakness.

Procedure

{{org_field_name}} will work to identify all workplace stressors and conduct risk assessments to eliminate stress or control the risks from stress. These risks will be regularly reviewed. Any reasonable and practical adaptations to the physical working environment to reduce stress will be implemented.
{{org_field_name}} will consult with staff safety representatives on all proposed action relating to the prevention of work-related stress.
{{org_field_name}} will provide access to confidential counselling for employees affected by stress caused either by work or external factors.
{{org_field_name}} will provide training for all staff in good stress management practices.
A system of regular employee appraisal will be in place where individuals can raise concerns about stress, workload, relationships and other pressures with their manager in a supportive environment. Where it is difficult for employees to raise their concerns with their manager arrangements will be made so that they can talk to an alternative member of staff, in confidence, about their concerns.
Clear guidance on their roles, responsibilities and objectives will be provided for all staff, so they are clear on what is expected of them and the boundaries of their role. Where additional training and development is required to enable an employee to carry out their work without feeling stressed, this will be provided.
{{org_field_name}} will make every effort to support individuals who are experiencing difficulty with their situation, including flexible working schedules where possible, leave, advice or simply a listening ear.
{{org_field_name}} does not tolerate bullying and harassment in any form. {{org_field_name}}’s grievance procedure provides protection for individuals who are being bullied or harassed as well as an effective structure for investigating and acting upon any complaints by staff members.

Responsibilities

Management

{{org_field_name}} manager will:

a. ensure good two-way communication between themselves and their staff
b. ensure that staff are consulted and provided with constructive feedback in the course of their work particularly when changes are being proposed or implemented
c. ensure that bullying and harassment is not tolerated within {{org_field_name}}
d. carry out risk assessments
e. implement recommendations of risk assessments carried out within their area of responsibility
f. monitor working hours and overtime to ensure that staff are not overloaded or overworking
g. monitor holidays to ensure that staff are taking their full entitlement
h. ensure that staff have adequate opportunities for rest, meals and refreshments
i. attend training as requested in good management practice and health and safety
j. ensure that staff are fully trained to carry out their duties
k. ensure that staff are provided with meaningful developmental opportunities
l. ensure that staff experiencing stress have access to appropriate sources of advice and support
m. ensure that lone workers are provided with effective supervision and support
n. offer additional support to a member of staff who is experiencing stress outside work, should it be appropriate
o. encourage a culture where stress is not regarded as a weakness.

Employees

In {{org_field_name}}, employees are expected to:

a. attend preventative stress awareness sessions, when requested, so that they can learn to recognise the signs of stress in themselves and others and be aware of effective strategies to keep stress to the minimum
b. report issues of concern to {{org_field_name}} manager, safety representative or to another senior member of staff so that any problems can be addressed and where possible prevented.

Safety Representatives

In {{org_field_name}}, safety representatives will:

a. be meaningfully consulted on any changes to work practices or work design that could precipitate work-related stress
b. be meaningfully involved in the risk assessment process
c. be able to consult with staff on the issue of work-related stress
d. conduct joint inspections of the workplace to ensure that environmental causes of stress are properly controlled.

Staff Sickness due to Stress-related Conditions

Where staff members are off sick for a prolonged time with stress problems {{org_field_name}} will be careful to support them and maintain contact throughout the period of sickness. When the person returns to work:

they will be given a return to work interview
where necessary, and with their agreement, they will be referred to an appropriate occupational health service for assessment.

{{org_field_name}} will maintain effective procedures for measuring absence and sickness in the workplace which will include a way of identifying sickness which is related to workplace stress. This data will be regularly reviewed by {{org_field_name}} manager to identify any trends or patterns in stress-related sickness that need to be addressed.

Reviewed on: {{last_update_date}}

N88. Stress at Work