It seems the workplace is no longer a laughing matter for managers, with only half considering themselves to be in good health. The Quality of Working Life report by the Chartered Management Institute and Health and Safety Executive advice service, Workplace Health Connect, shows that 43% of managers admitted to feeling or becoming angry with others too easily. Almost one third (31%) confessed to losing their sense of humour, which is in turn increasing workplace pressures. More than half of the 1,541 managers questioned (55%) complained of muscular tension or physical aches and pains, while 44% said they experienced frequent headaches. Mary Chapman, chief executive of the CMI, said managers needed a better understanding of the consequences of letting relatively minor symptoms escalate. “They need to take more personal responsibility for improving their health because inaction is clearly having an effect on colleagues and the knock-on effect is that customer relationships will suffer, too,” she said. Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday Elizabeth Gyngell, programme director at Workplace Health Connect, said health activities should not be driven by concern about legislation, but by the understanding that improved wellbeing can generate significant benefits to morale and performance. “This means organisations should ensure their employees are well versed in identifying and addressing symptoms before they escalate,” she said.
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