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Tackle work stress, bosses told | Tackle work stress, bosses told |
(about 23 hours later) | |
Employers need to pay more attention to the levels of stress and anxiety in the workplace, key NHS advisers say. | Employers need to pay more attention to the levels of stress and anxiety in the workplace, key NHS advisers say. |
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence said the cost of work related mental illness was £28bn - a quarter of the UK's total sick bill. | |
Bad managers were the single biggest cause of problems, the group claimed. | Bad managers were the single biggest cause of problems, the group claimed. |
But it said simple steps such as giving positive feedback, allowing flexible working and giving extra days off as a reward could cut the impact by a third. | But it said simple steps such as giving positive feedback, allowing flexible working and giving extra days off as a reward could cut the impact by a third. |
As well as taking measures like these, NICE urged employers to invest in training for managers and mentoring for staff to help career development. | As well as taking measures like these, NICE urged employers to invest in training for managers and mentoring for staff to help career development. |
THE TOLL OF STRESS Yasmin, 37, from Wokingham in Berkshire, used to be employed by a large financial company as a tax accountant. Despite having had no previous problems, stress led to her taking nearly four years off work.Yasmin was prescribed around 30 different anti-depressants before a combination was found that worked for her. She said: "I lost all sense of self-worth and self-confidence. I felt useless, hopeless and a waste of space." | |
More than 13 million working days a year are lost because of work related stress, anxiety and depression. | |
Once the pay of staff, lost productivity and replacing ill employees are taken into account, the cost to employers hits £28.3bn a year. | |
To convince employers to act, NICE has designed a calculator to show the potential savings of supporting staff more. | To convince employers to act, NICE has designed a calculator to show the potential savings of supporting staff more. |
It suggests that for the average firm of 1,000 staff, £250,000 a year could be saved. | It suggests that for the average firm of 1,000 staff, £250,000 a year could be saved. |
Professor Cary Cooper, an expert in workplace psychology from Lancaster University who helped draw up the recommendations, said: "You cannot overestimate the importance of saying 'Well done' to staff, but so often it does not happen. | |
"Managers will tell you when you are doing something wrong, but not when you are doing it right." | "Managers will tell you when you are doing something wrong, but not when you are doing it right." |
Recession | Recession |
But he said the problem was not just to do with staff taking time off. | But he said the problem was not just to do with staff taking time off. |
"Presenteeism, where people come to work but add no value, is if anything more of a problem, especially during a recession. | "Presenteeism, where people come to work but add no value, is if anything more of a problem, especially during a recession. |
"People are so scared that they go to work when they are not fit to," said Prof Cooper. | "People are so scared that they go to work when they are not fit to," said Prof Cooper. |
His remarks are supported by a recent survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development which revealed a quarter of UK workers describe their mental health as moderate or poor, yet nearly all continued to work regularly. | His remarks are supported by a recent survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development which revealed a quarter of UK workers describe their mental health as moderate or poor, yet nearly all continued to work regularly. |
HAVE YOUR SAY With redundancies always in the background, no wonder mental illness is on the increaseGillian Moore, London Send us your comments | |
The NICE report said with the right environment work can even be a force for good as it can offer stability, purpose, friendship and distraction. | The NICE report said with the right environment work can even be a force for good as it can offer stability, purpose, friendship and distraction. |
Dame Carol Black, the government national director for health and work, who produced a report calling on employers to take more of an interest in the health of their workforce last year, welcomed the recommendations. | Dame Carol Black, the government national director for health and work, who produced a report calling on employers to take more of an interest in the health of their workforce last year, welcomed the recommendations. |
She said it provided "clear, practical advice to promote mental well-being". | She said it provided "clear, practical advice to promote mental well-being". |
But a spokesman for the Confederation of British Industry said: "The mental health of staff is something firms have been making a priority. | But a spokesman for the Confederation of British Industry said: "The mental health of staff is something firms have been making a priority. |
"More and more schemes have been set up to support staff in recent years." | "More and more schemes have been set up to support staff in recent years." |
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