UK: 5 Steps to combat workplace stress: Your guide for Stress Awareness Month
The Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) Working Minds campaign has called on employers to support workers mental health during Stress Awareness Month.
This article is an abridgement of an article originally published by the HSE.
In recognition of Stress Awareness Month this April, British employers are urged to take proactive steps to alleviate stress in the workplace. The Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) Working Minds campaign outlines five crucial strategies for employers to support mental health among their workforces.
- Reach Out and Have Conversations: The first step in combating workplace stress is to initiate open dialogues with employees. Encourage discussions about mental health and stress, fostering a supportive environment where concerns can be addressed without stigma.
- Recognise Signs and Causes of Stress: Identifying stress triggers is essential for effective mitigation. By recognizing signs of stress and understanding its root causes, employers can implement targeted strategies to alleviate pressure points and promote well-being.
- Respond to Identified Risks: Once stress factors are identified, swift action is necessary. Employers must respond promptly to mitigate risks, implementing tailored interventions to address specific stressors and support employees in managing workload and expectations.
- Reflect on Actions Taken: Reflection is key to continuous improvement. Employers should evaluate the effectiveness of implemented measures, soliciting feedback from employees and adjusting strategies as needed to ensure sustained progress in stress reduction efforts.
- Make It Routine: To foster a culture of well-being, stress management practices should become ingrained in the workplace routine. Regular assessments, ongoing support initiatives, and consistent communication about mental health are integral to sustaining a healthy work environment.
Legal obligations and organisational support
Beyond moral imperatives, preventing work-related stress is a legal obligation for employers. The Working Minds campaign offers a wealth of resources, including free online learning modules, toolkits, and risk assessment templates, to assist businesses in fulfilling their duty to safeguard employee mental health.
Partnerships and collaborative efforts
The Working Minds campaign has garnered support from over 30 organisations, including the CIPD, highlighting the collective commitment to promoting mental health in the workplace. Collaboration between industry stakeholders underscores the importance of a united approach to tackling stress-related challenges.
Rachel Suff, senior policy advisor, employee relations at the CIPD, says:
“Many organisations are reactive and tend to put more emphasis on providing support when people become ill rather than on prevention, including for mental ill health and stress. We need both! We want to see every organisation taking a proactive approach to employee wellbeing".
As stress continues to pose significant challenges in the modern workplace, proactive measures are essential to foster a culture of well-being.
Resources and further information
If you are an employer looking for support, a good place to start is to register for free bitesize learning.
- Use a Talking Toolkit to help structure your conversations
- Download a risk assessment template to develop your processes for preventing or managing stressors
- Read the Blog: taking an organisational approach to risk assessment can tackle the root cause of issues and help the whole team.
- Find out about NEBOSH HSE Certificate in Managing Stress at Work
- Sign up to the monthly newsletter to help you champion the Working Minds campaign beyond April.
Sources
April is Stress Awareness Month: tackle stress in the workplace with five steps in five weeks by the HSE, 2nd April, 2024.
