Tue, 27 Sep 2011
Business Link says managers should be trained to help
employees deal with stress and other health issues in the
workplace.
Employers have a duty to monitor stress levels in the office and understand the potential health problems facing their workers, it has been claimed.
Business Link adviser Chris Simpson said that people in senior management positions should be aware of how the pressures of the workplace can lead to stress.
With the economic crisis increasing the anxiety levels of the British workforce, Mr Simpson believes managers should be trained to understand stress and minimise the risk of health problems among their employees.
He explained: "There is a lot of pressure in regards to the potential loss of jobs and all the managers and the senior managers need to obviously deal with that and really have more awareness of what their employees are feeling.
"Some of the key areas businesses can look at are training courses for the management team to understand where stress can come from."
Mr Simpson said that the most common causes of stress in the workplace are "heavy workloads" and a "lack of control", with many people worried about job security.
Earlier this week, a survey of 1,200 workers by Aon Consulting revealed that only 30 per cent would approach their manager if they were feeling stressed.
The study found that less than nine per cent of employees would choose to discuss symptoms of stress with a company doctor or nurse, with most people preferring to consult their GP or family and friends.
Alex Bennett, head of healthcare consulting at Aon, said that the findings suggest a lack of communication between senior figures and stressed employees.
"Managers need to be mindful of the stresses currently facing their employees and take an active role in managing this health issue," he remarked.
Thanks for your help,
The learndirect team