Stress in the workplace

Why is good mental health in the workplace so important?

Poor mental health and wellbeing can manifest in many ways and if unchecked can have devastating consequences for not only those suffering but those around them including family, friends and colleagues.

According to figures published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), some 776,000 workers were recorded as having suffered from work- related stress, depression or anxiety in 2023/24. The figures also reveal that during the same period 16.4 million working days were lost to work-related stress, depression or anxiety

The financial cost and perhaps more importantly the human cost for those affected by work related stress, is not sustainable. All businesses, regardless of the sector, size or turnover, must therefore be aware of and adhere to their obligations to prevent work related illnesses which includes poor mental health.

What is stress?

In order to prevent work related stress and poor mental health, it is important to understand what is meant by it before moving on to assess the risk of it occurring and putting measures in place to manage those risks.

Stress affects people in different ways and to differing degrees but will generally include feelings of being overwhelmed and difficulties in coping with the pressures of work. For example, some may feel that they don’t have the knowledge or skills to deliver a project, or they may be working to deadlines which cause or add to their stress.

Mental health is slightly different and relates to how people think, feel and behave, with anxiety and depression the most common mental health problems.

Work can cause such issues but can also aggravate pre-existing conditions or the symptoms of them.

How to spot signs of stress?

The key thing to remember is that stress does not affect everyone in the same way, indeed what causes one person stress may be just what another thrives on such as tight deadlines or increased responsibility.

In the workplace, however, there are some things which employers may want to keep an eye out for including, individuals taking more time off, becoming withdrawn, suffering with mood swings or perhaps a loss of motivation and confidence.

In a team setting, tell-tale signs might include increased arguments, higher staff turnover, decreased performance and more grievances and complaints, amongst other issues.

What should employers do to help combat stress in the workplace?

Although things have improved in recent years, it is fair to say that there is still something of a stigma around acknowledging and discussing stress and mental health more generally. Given the potentially far-reaching consequences of the same, however, it is important to talk about it as this can often be the starting point towards a healthy and happy workplace with fewer absences, increased morale and greater productivity.

Employers should:

• Speak to their employees both individually and collectively
• Encourage openness and honesty
• Identify and appreciate the demands of the job and establish how staff feel about what is expected of them and how the business supports them in terms of workloads, training and support
• Actively listen to employees to ensure they fully understand and are therefore able to effectively deal with the particular concerns/risks within the business

How should employers respond to concerns about stress in the workplace?

The conversations around mental health and wellbeing should not be one-off “tick box” exercises. They should be regular and meaningful and most importantly they should put people at ease so that in the event someone is worried about their stress levels or mental wellbeing, concerns are addressed effectively and with compassion.

Of course, there is no “one size fits all” approach to managing issues around mental health and stress; how this is achieved will inevitably be influenced by factors such as the nature of the business, the number of employees and also the resources available.

However, some common points to consider irrespective of the sector may include:

• Review how people work and reflect on working practices
• Talk to staff to identify less obvious risks and how to deal with them
• Review records around why former employees left
• Ask for employees’ views on how best to resolve concerns when they are raised
• Keep a record of the potential harms, risks and the controls put in place and keep them under regular review

How do Olliers Solicitors combat stress in the workplace?

Like many sectors, law can be a very intense line of work and at Olliers we do our best to ensure a healthy working environment through several initiatives led by a dedicated wellbeing committee, promoting:

• Good employee relations
• Regular review of training needs – the firm is committed to giving every member of staff the opportunity to fulfil their potential
• Open door policy
• Equal opportunities
• Anti-discrimination
• Flexible working patterns

Our experts appreciate the importance of good mental health and wellbeing. We also understand health and safety  legislation and have considerable experience providing advice and assistance to those who may be subject to investigation or prosecution as a result of a work related issues.

If you or your business find yourself in this position, it is important to instruct experienced lawyers as soon as possible, so please feel free to get in touch for an initial discussion about your needs. Contact us by telephone on 0161 8341515 or email info@olliers.com and one of our lawyers will contact you.