As part of May’s Hazard of the Month, Welfare, we’re highlighting three key areas: Mental Health Awareness, Managing Health and Safety, and Stress Awareness.
Mental Health Awareness
One in four people will deal with a mental health problem in the UK, and it is estimated that 12.7% of all sickness absence days in the UK can be attributed to mental health conditions.
Identifying and managing mental health at work can help to develop strategies for better mental health, improve productivity, and save businesses money. Employers also have a legal responsibility to reduce the risk of work-related mental health issues in their employees as much as possible.
Risks to mental health should be assessed, and measures should be put in place to either completely remove it, or at least reduce it as far as reasonably practicable. Support should also be provided for those with a pre-existing condition, or those who develop one caused by factors unrelated to work.
Mental health awareness in the workplace is beneficial for all workers – for employees, this can make information, tools, and support more accessible, and for managers this can help to identify and support those struggling with mental health issues. Overall awareness can also improve mental health communication and promote open conversations by reducing stigma.
Improve mental health awareness in your workplace with our Mental Health Awareness Online Course. This course is suitable for employees at all levels within an organisation. Get 10% off this course with the code ‘welfare10’!
Managing Health and Safety
No matter what industry you are in, the size of your organisation, or the nature of your business, the key elements of managing health and safety effectively are:
- Leadership and management
- An environment where people are trusted and involved
- A skilled and properly trained workforce
- An effective health and safety policy that is properly implemented and adhered to
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 is the primary piece of legislation affecting workplace health and safety in the UK, setting out the duties that employers have towards employees and members of the public, employees have to themselves and to each other, and self-employed people have towards themselves and others.
By understanding the importance of managing health and safety issues in the workplace and the legal requirements involved, you will be able to effectively encourage high standard of Health and Safety in your workplace. Through the implementation of a Health and Safety policy, risk assessments, appropriate training and more, you can ensure your business is compliant.
Make sure health and safety issues are properly managed in your workplace with our Managing Health and Safety Online Course. This course is suitable for both new managers, or managers who need some refresher training. Get 10% off this course with the code ‘welfare10’!
Stress Awareness
In 2020/21 stress, depression or anxiety accounted for 50% of all work-related ill health cases, with the total number of cases at 822,000 for the year. The main factors at work identified by respondents were workload pressures, including tight deadlines and too much responsibility, and a lack of managerial support.
As per the HSE, there are six main areas that can cause work-related stress if not properly managed:
- Demands: workers may not be able to cope with the demands of their role
- Control: workers do not have control over how they complete their work
- Support: workers don’t receive enough support or information
- Relationships: workers are being bullied at work or experiencing other difficulties with workplace relationships
- Role: workers don’t have a full understanding of their responsibilities
- Change: workers aren’t engaging with changes in the business
Open communication with your workers, along with having an understanding of how to identify signs of stress, can help to prevent and reduce workplace stress.
Signs of stress within a team may include:
- arguments
- higher staff turnover
- more reports of stress
- more sickness absence
- decreased performance
- more complaints and grievances
Signs of stress within an individual may include:
- mood swings
- being withdrawn
- loss of motivation, commitment and confidence
- increased emotional reactions – being more tearful, sensitive or aggressive
- take more time off
- arrive for work later
- be more twitchy or nervous
Understand how to identify and help employees struggling with workplace stress with our Stress Awareness Online Course. This course is beneficial for all employees, and provides information about both identifying and managing stress. Get 10% off this course with the code ‘welfare10’!
Mental Health Awareness, Managing Health and Safety, and Stress Awareness are essential courses for keeping your workforce both mentally and physically healthy. Make sure you don’t miss out on our 10% off deal on these courses, available until the end of May. Simply enter the code ‘welfare10’ at checkout to save!
Read more Safety Spotlight blogs here
To keep up to date with the latest health & safety news and advice, follow us on social media: