Supporting Employees Starts With Understanding the Cause When an employee is experiencing work-related stress, managers are often the first people in a position to notice that something has changed. Perhaps somebody who is normally engaged has become withdrawn. Their concentration might have changed, they may seem more irritable or overwhelmed, or their performance might not...Continue reading
Do Employers Have a Legal Responsibility for Work-Related Stress? Work-related stress is not simply an employee wellbeing issue. Employers have legal responsibilities to protect the health, safety and welfare of their employees, and this includes taking reasonable steps to protect them from excessive workplace stress. Under UK health and safety law, employers have a duty...Continue reading
Mental Health Awareness Is Important, but Managers Need More Mental health awareness has become an important part of creating healthier workplaces. More organisations are encouraging conversations about wellbeing, reducing stigma and helping employees recognise that it is acceptable to speak openly when they are struggling. However, awareness alone does not necessarily prepare managers for what...Continue reading
What Are the 6 HSE Management Standards? The 6 HSE Management Standards provide a framework to help employers identify and manage some of the key causes of work-related stress. Developed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), they focus on six areas of work that, when poorly managed, can contribute to increased stress and negatively...
Understanding Work-Related Stress and the HSE Management Standards Work-related stress is not simply about having a busy week or feeling under pressure before a deadline. When workplace pressures become excessive or difficult to manage, they can affect an employee’s health, wellbeing and ability to perform their role. For employers, this makes managing work-related stress an...Continue reading
Workplace mental health is an ongoing commitment Many organisations invest in workplace mental health training with the best of intentions. Managers attend a course, employees complete awareness sessions and new policies are introduced to support wellbeing across the business. It is a positive first step. However, one training session alone is unlikely to create lasting...Continue reading
Understanding psychosocial risks When people think about risks in the workplace, they often picture physical hazards such as slips, trips, heavy lifting or faulty equipment. However, some of the biggest risks employees face are less visible. Psychosocial risks are the aspects of work that can affect an employee's mental health, wellbeing and ability to perform...Continue reading
Why workplace culture matters A mentally healthy workplace is something many organisations aspire to create, but there is often confusion about what it actually looks like. Some organisations believe it is about offering an Employee Assistance Programme or organising an annual wellbeing campaign. Others focus on mental health awareness training or introducing flexible working policies....Continue reading
Is Mental Health Awareness Training Part of your Strategy? Mental health awareness training has become a familiar part of workplace wellbeing strategies. Many organisations now provide sessions to help employees recognise the signs of poor mental health, reduce stigma and encourage more open conversations. These are all positive steps. Raising awareness is important, and mental...Continue reading
Why do mental health conversations matter? Many managers worry about saying the wrong thing when an employee seems to be struggling and this is completely understandable. Mental health can feel like a sensitive topic, especially if you have never received formal training or supported someone through a difficult period before. Find out more about what...Continue reading