Most organisations have done nothing to implement stress management
guidelines by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), according to new
research.
Business information provider, Croner, claims that 79 per cent of health and
safety professionals have taken no action to meet the guidelines, which are due
to be finalised by the end of this year.
The poll reveals just 7 per cent of organisations have taken any steps to
implement the voluntary management standards, with only 14 per cent saying it
is under consideration.
More than half (55 per cent) are unaware of the HSE standards, which were
introduced last year to help employers prevent and manage work-related stress –
the UK’s most prevalent occupational health condition.
Up to 5 million Britons complain of work-related stress each year. This
accounts for 90 million lost working days each year, costing business around
£3.7bn.
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The HSE identified six sources of workplace stress that need to be managed
by employers: demands of the job, control over work, support from colleagues
and management, working relationships, clarity of role and organisational
change.
Under the guidelines, a percentage of staff must assess that each standard
target is being achieved by the employer, else they will fail the assessment.
