Stress & mental health
Pressure or buzz can be a motivating factor for many people, but when this is excessive, it can lead to stress – defined as ‘an adverse reaction which can have physical effects as emotional and mental impacts on an employee’s ability to work effectively’. A person’s workload can be one cause of stress, though there are others – the type of work, the support available and the working environment can all play a part. Cases of stress are found at all levels of organisations, including managers, team members – as well as high-powered senior leaders.
Stress is a real and widespread problem in many organisations and as well as absence, can lead to lower productivity and reduced morale. As an employer, you have legal responsibilities to protect your staff from stress, as you do from other health and safety risks.
Though Profile does not talk explicitly about stress, it looks closely at the working culture in your organisation, and assesses how many of the potential causes of stress are identified, managed and evaluated. For example, it looks for examples of feedback and consultation about decisions, support for work-life balance and clarity in individual and team objectives.
It is estimated that one in four people encounter a mental health problem in the course of a year. Since mental health problems are sometimes recognised disabilities, you may also have responsibilities to make reasonable adjustments for people with mental health problems they have discussed with you. Discrimination against them should also be avoided, in the way they are recruited, managed and developed.
< Previous: Attendance and work-related illness
Next: Work-life balance >