The real cost of stress in the workplace…
Posted by Bev Garside on Monday 23rd January 2012
Organisational costs / The size of the problem:
A survey by NICE found that the cost for work related mental illness in the UK was £28 billion.
An additional study by MIND found that in 2008/9 20% of workers took time off due to work-related stress, but an alarming 90% of these lied about the cause of their absenteeism stating reasons such as headaches and stomach bugs rather than the true cause of long hours, poor support, unmanageable workloads and workplace bullying.
Last year a total of 13.5 million work days were lost due to work-related stress, anxiety and depression, making it the largest contributor to lost work days.
The latest estimates from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) show:
- The total number of cases of stress in 2010/11 was 400,000 out of a total of 1,152,000 for all work-related illnesses.
- The industries that reported the highest rates of work-related stress in the last three years were health, social work, education and public administration.
- The occupations that reported the highest rates of work-related stress in the last three years were health and social service managers, teachers and social welfare associate professionals.
The impact:
Falls in productivity are directly linked to work-related stress, from the rise in levels of absenteeism and the subsequent cost of cover, to the more subtle yet devastating effects of a rise in human error leading to a loss of customers, the organisational cost of re-doing the job and the personal cost of reputation.
High staff turnover is another concern, so too is the issue of poor workplace relations. This is in itself a vicious cycle, with work-related stress directly causing the environment that breeds it. The effect of losing one staff member due to stress directly impacts upon the stress levels of other workers who are forced to take on more work. Without sufficient intervention organisations will only fail to stop the problem at its source.
Legal implications:
Legally, under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, organisations and companies have a “duty of care” to ensure the physical and mental well-being of their staff. This includes minimising the risk of stress-related illness or injury to employees.
The Management Standards for Work Related Stress 2004 follow the same guidelines as other hazards in that the causes of work related stress are rooted within management culture and practice. Within a court of law, no employer can claim that they were unaware of the risks posed to employees and the steps that they are obligated to take to ensure the well-being of their staff.
There is solid ground for a lawsuit if an employee resigns or loses work as a result of work-related stress that causes a medical problem as this is considered a breach of contract.
The recognition of the serious, and in some cases grave consequences of work-related stress has influenced a number of organisations to investigate stress in their own workplaces, and implementing procedures for its prevention and treatment.
Implications for the individual:
A recent study found that 92% of workers find life at work stressful, and almost 77% feel stressed before they even come to work. The top three causes of stress are increased workload, fear of redundancy and worry over company changes that may impact upon jobs.
1 in 5 people suffer from work-related stress and a recent study by mental health organisation MIND found that 1 in 11 British workers have been to see their GP for rising stress and anxiety levels linked to the current economic strains, and prescription of anti-depressants has rocketed in recent years.
The effects of stress are not only damaging to employee productivity but on a more startling level can have grave consequences. Physical symptoms of stress can range from sleeplessness, irritability and panic attacks to heart disease and dangerously high blood pressure.
Mental health issues can range from high levels of anxiety, and depression to incidence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Stress directly impacts upon mental and physical health, and it is vital that workers are made aware of the risks.
How can Empower help? 
Empower offers training to managers, trustees and HR specialists on how to reduce stress in the work place.
Our range of programme courses across Wales offers the opportunity to share issues with other professionals in a confidential environment which will enable you to plan a positive strategy to reduce stress in your workplace.
Individuals can attend the training to establish how they can manage their own situation and remain healthy.
Really committed to reducing stress in the workplace?
Why not bring Empower into your organisation to deliver the session to your whole team and take collective responsibility for making a change?
So what return can you expect on your investment?
Increased knowledge and understanding can lead to:
- An increase in staff performance and productivity
- An increase in customer satisfaction
- Financial gains due to lower levels of staff absenteeism
- Greater workplace satisfaction and morale
- Greater staff communication and relationships, minimising the risk of problems “snowballing”
- Reduction in staff turnover
- A greater sense of “team support”
- Fewer accidents and human errors
- Improvements in organisation and business reputation
Call now to establish the right support for your organisation.
We will advise you on the most appropriate methods and signpost you to additional professional support if you require it.
For an outline of the Managing Stress in the Work Place course click here.
To view current dates for our Managing Stress in the Workplace training course click here.
To discuss a bespoke course for your organisation please complete the Empower Bespoke Training Enquiring Form.
Please feel free to call Bev on 01443 749787 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to discuss your organisations training needs and find out how we can help you and your organisation.
Tel: 01443 749787
Mob: 07904 109277
Empower - Support for the Voluntary Sector Ltd, Ty Menter, Parc Navigation, Abercynon, CF45 4SN
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