Public Servant Lifestyle

Stress is biggest threat to health at work, Benenden Healthcare research shows.

Stress is the biggest threat to health in the workplace and employers need to do more to tackle the problem, new research** from Benenden Healthcare Society shows. Workers believe tackling stress should be the main priority for employers ahead of risks to health from long hours, staring at VDU screens and heavy lifting.

Nearly two out of five workers ? around 4.9 million people ? believe tackling stress in the workplace should be the first priority for employers, ahead of one in six who believe long hours should be the major priority, research from Benenden Healthcare, a provider of affordable quality healthcare services, reveals.

Priority

Around 47% of workers believe employers have the most responsibility to monitor health risks in the workplace and to take action to minimise them. Just 7% believe it should be a job for the Government while only 2% believe unions have the most responsibility for the issue.

Up to 36% of employees identified stress as the biggest risk to health work ? way ahead of other risks such as heavy lifting which was selected by 15% of staff.

Jakki Stubbington of Benenden Healthcare said: ?Stress is easy to laugh at and we all know people who complain about being stressed by what seem like relatively minor issues.

?However stress is a real issue at work and is having a real effect on health with people saying that they would prefer action on stress ahead of action on long hours. The effects of stress are less easy to quantify for employers but it is undeniable that stressed workers will perform less well.

?Millions of us spend most of our weekday lives at work so it should be no surprise that workplace health hazards are a major concern. Employers should take heed of concerns about workplace health. Tackling stress, though, needn?t be expensive for employers and it will pay off.?

Workers aged between 16 and 24 are less concerned about stress. Just 30% of them believe it should be tackled as a priority by employers compared with 44% of workers aged 55 to 64.

Membership

Benenden offers membership to teachers and education workers, Post Office staff, civil servants, BT and local government authorities? employees, charity workers and their families. Membership costs just ?1.10 per week. Additionally, organisations operating in these areas can join Benenden?s corporate plan and offer healthcare as a benefit to staff for just ?57.20 per person, per year. Prices will increase from 1st July to ?1.25 and ?65 respectively.

The Society can provide the following benefits:

Diagnostic consultations

With a local NHS registered consultant, up to ?1000 for diagnostic tests, minor treatment and follow-up consultations if required.

Medical treatment and surgery

Benenden can provide treatment for many conditions, as well as help with a wide variety of surgical procedures. Support is available at specially selected regional centres or at our own Benenden Hospital in Kent.

Cancer and TB Support

Financial help to members who have been diagnosed with cancer or TB, complementing the NHS and social services.

Health Concern Advice Line

Provides information about organisations and helplines that can provide support, care or expert advice on different healthcare issues.

24-hour GP Telephone Consultation Line

Allows members access to a doctor outside normal surgery hours all-year round. Members can make unlimited calls and there is no limit on consultation times.

Long-term care advisory service

Funds assistance in finding suitable long-term care arrangements for members and their relatives.

Discounts at Health Clubs and on Health Screening

Discounted access to a wide range of sports and health clubs and quality health screening is available to all Members.

Physiotherapy

Help towards the cost of physiotherapy as recommended by a GP or consultant.

To find out more about joining the Benenden Healthcare Society call: 0845 052 5731*, or see www.benenden.org.uk

The Benenden Healthcare Society Medical Healthcare plan is not an insured product. The benefits are provided on a discretionary basis and are not guaranteed. Support is provided to assist people who are finding it hard to solve a health problem via the NHS. You must be under 65 years of age when you join. Some services have a six month qualifying period.

* Calls cost a maximum of 4p per minute for BT customers. The price of calls from non-BT lines will vary. Calls may be recorded.

** TNS interviewed 611 employees online between February 13th and 15th.

More information available in Features, Family & Personal, Work Life Balance