Public Servant Lifestyle

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has unveiled The Management Standards for Work-related Stress - a new approach to help employers work with their employees to manage the risks from work-related stress.

The Standards, informed by the expert research linking job design to ill health, consist of six main factors that contribute to work-related stress: Demands; Control; Support; Relationships, Role; & Change.

Management Standards

"This is a very practical example of what can be done to demonstrate how easy it can be to reduce the causes of work related stress," says Minister For Work Jane Kennedy. "The Management Standards for Work-related Stress provide clear advice for employers to follow."

At more than 13 million days a year, work-related stress is the biggest occupational cause of working days lost through injury, or ill-health. With an average of 29 days lost per case, it costs society about £3.7 billion a year. In 2001/2, more than half a million individuals in Britain experienced work-related stress at levels that made them ill.

With input from a range of employer organisations, professional bodies, unions, and other Government agencies such as ACAS, the HSE has developed an approach based on a continuous improvement model featuring a benchmarking tool to help managers gauge stress levels, compare themselves with other organisations, and work with employees to identify solutions.

The Management Standards are not new regulations. Along with the toolkit, the standards help large organisations meet their existing duty of care and their duty to assess the risk of work-related stress. The standards define the characteristics of an organisation where stress is managed effectively.

Sick

Steve Sumner, of the Employers' Organisation for Local Government, said: "Whatever you call it, the bottom line is, would you rather have people at home off sick, or do something about it?"

Hugh Robertson, TUC, said:"In the absence of legislation, these standards are the most effective tool that employers can use to help end the epidemic of stress related illnesses. We hope employers will work with safety representatives and stewards to use the standards."

"Pressure is part and parcel of all work and helps to keep us motivated," says Bill Callaghan, Chair of the Health and Safety Commission. "But excessive pressure can lead to stress which undermines performance, is costly to employers and can make people ill. The Standards highlight the components of good organisation, job design and management that keep stress levels in check and enhance productivity."

In support of the new standard, ACAS (the independent statutory body which aims to improve organisations and working life through better employment relations) has launched its latest advisory booklet Stress at Work to help employers and employees avoid work-related stress and deal with the issues it raises.

The booklet gives practical advice to employers and employees to help them deal with the main causes of stress. It also gives advice on how to cope with the symptoms of stress - like anxiety and ill health.

Productivity

Acas Chief Executive John Taylor said: "Stress is often a symptom of poor employment relations and can seriously affect productivity. Organisations who talk regularly with their employees and have sound systems and procedures in place for managing absence and sickness are much more likely to avoid work-related stress and to be able to deal with potentially stressful situations when they arise.

Additionally, the four major European social partner organisations have signed a framework agreement on work-related stress, an issue which is a concern for both employers and workers. The agreement was then presented to the European Commission.

This agreement, concluded after nine months of negotiations, is to be implemented by the members of ETUC, UNICE/UEAPME, and CEEP, rather than by European legislation.

The agreement focuses on work-related stress only, and aims at increasing the understanding of employers and workers of work-related stress and proposes a method for identifying problems and dealing with them.

Agreement

he agreement contains a commitment on the part of the members of ETUC, UNICE/UEAPME and CEEP to implement it in accordance with the practices specific to management and labour in the Member States.

The four signatory organisations are:

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