Public Servant Lifestyle

Stress costs 10% of the UK’s Gross National Product (GNP) – yet fewer than 10% of employer organisations have official policy to tackle it. Mental health charity Mind is calling upon employers to act now to address the ever-rising stress levels at work, now costing 10% of the UK’s GNP. An astounding 12.8 million working days a year are now lost to work-related stress alone, with 58% of workers complaining of job stress – rising to 45 million days lost to general stress and anxiety conditions, of which work stress is likely to play a part.

In its report Stress and mental health in the workplace, Mind reveals that fewer than one in ten employer organisations have an official policy on mental health - although 98% of respondents to a Confederation of British Industry (CBI) survey felt that mental health should be of concern to their workplace bosses.

It shows that workplace stress can create mental ill health, or act as a trigger for existing mental health problems, which otherwise might have been successfully managed.

Economically, it makes more sense for organisations to support current employees than to recruit and train new ones, who, without proper systems in place, may well also become stressed.

Sources of stress in the workplace include poor working conditions, long hours, relationships at work, lack of job security, travel, organisational structure and climate, and generally a mismatch between job requirements and the individual’s capabilities, resources or needs.

Recommendations for employers, in addition to introduction of official mental health in the workplace policies, include flexi-time, working from home, stress coaching, on the job support, keeping jobs open during sick leave, provision of quiet rooms, exercise provision, training programmes and social activities.

The report highlights good practice examples from employers and initiatives offered by local Mind associations to support people at work and assist people in returning to work.

"Clearly employers cannot afford to ignore the issues arising from the ever-increasing levels of occupational stress, and the ‘long-hour culture’ of working Britain today," says Mind’s Chief Executive Richard Brook. "We urge for more understanding and openness of stress and mental health problems in the workplace - today’s competitive and pressured work environments can make it very difficult for people to disclose mental health or work stress problems without the fear of affecting their career prospects."

The Confederation of British Industry is the UK's independent employers' organisation. Representing public and private sector companies employing 10 million of the nations' workforce.

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