HSE Urges Employers To Act On Work Related Stress During Stress Awareness Week

As Stress Awareness Week begins, the Health and Safety Executive is reminding employers that work related stress is a leading cause of work related ill health and should be assessed and managed like other workplace health and safety risks; HSE is promoting its Working Minds campaign, which offers a five step approach and free tools to help employers identify and control stress risks.

As Stress Awareness Week starts, the Health and Safety Executive is urging employers and managers to take practical action to prevent and manage work related stress. HSE says stress remains one of the leading causes of work related ill health in Great Britain and, if not addressed, can harm worker health and wellbeing, increase sickness absence and reduce workplace performance.

HSE reminds employers that they must assess and manage the risks of work related stress in the same way they manage other workplace health and safety risks. That involves identifying causes of stress, assessing who may be affected and taking steps to eliminate or control the risks. The regulator is promoting its Working Minds campaign to support these actions and improve workplace practice.

Working Minds promotes a five step approach known as the 5Rs: Reach Out to start conversations about stress and mental wellbeing; Recognise the signs and causes of stress; Respond by taking action to support workers; Reflect on what is working and where improvements are needed; and Make it Routine by embedding good practice into everyday work. HSE also recommends using the Management Standards framework to consider six areas of work that can contribute to stress if not managed effectively: Demands, Control, Support, Relationships, Role and Change.

HSE points to a range of free tools and guidance, including the Talking Toolkit, the Stress Indicator Tool and online learning modules. During Stress Awareness Week employers are advised to review stress risk assessments where needed, use structured conversations with workers, discuss the six Management Standards areas with teams and encourage managers to access Working Minds training. HSE says preventing and managing work related stress should remain a year round priority supported by regular conversations, meaningful worker engagement and action to eliminate or control workplace risks.

HSE Corporate News