Work Stress

1 work Stress PREFACE. This booklet was produced during the lead in to the 2017 General Election which The UK National work Stress Major sponsors Network extends throughout the UK. We would saw a significant shift in the balance of power at Westminster, and the situation CWU. like to thank the following for their significant surrounding work related Stress and employment law has now become somewhat FBU. financial assistance in the production of this unpredictable. In the background continued debate about the result of the EU Ref- handbook, although it should be noted that FOA (Fire Officers).

2 GMB erendum has placed the principles of employment law and rights of workers in a the opinions expressed within the handbook and its contents are solely the responsibility Hazards Campaign potentially delicate situation. How the transfer of EU Directive based laws into UK. of NASUWT Law will affect those laws related to workers' rights is unknown. POA. Workstress has been fighting for years over the protection of issues around Health Scottish Hazards Campaign UNISON and Safety in the Workplace and now has major concerns about the outcome UNITE of any shift of EU-based law into UK law and the very likely future diminution of Health and Safety and other associated laws.

3 Friends of donors In late July 2017, UNISON secured a major victory in the Supreme Court making all CWU North East Branch charges for applications to the Employment Tribunal no longer legal. The Govern- Institute of Employment ment has had to back track and refund some 27million of paid fees. References to NASUWT Ealing Branch NASUWT Hounslow Branch such fees in this booklet obviously now no longer apply. NASUWT Northamptonshire Federation NASUWT Rotherham Branch NASUWT Yorkshire & Humber Region UNISON Barnado's Branch UNISON Camden Branch UNISON Glasgow City Branch UNISON Northamptonshire County Branch UNISON North West Region UNISON Northumberland Branch UNISON South East Region UNISON Stockport Local Government Branch UNITE ACTS Branch for Unison Staff Unite the Union London Northwest Branch 9708.

4 3. FOREWORD. This handbook has been produced by the WorkStress Network (UK National Appendices work Stress Network). consists of unpaid volunteers bring- l WorkStress (UK National work Stress Network). ing together workplace trade union and health and safety representatives, l Fit notes academics, safety professionals and others to campaign for the better protection of workers against Stress - related mental and physical illnesses l Sample workplace audit forms caused by poorly controlled workplace psycho-social hazards. l The European dimension l Useful sources of information The handbook examines: l References Appendices give further information about the WorkStress Network, The problem examine how other European countries are tackling the problem of l The extent of work - related Stress illness psycho-social workplace hazards, give some examples of Workplace l The cost of work - related Stress illnesses to the individual, society and Audit Forms and list some further sources of information.

5 The economy The handbook should be of use to many, including: l The causes of work - related Stress l employers, managers and human resources staff l The effects of Stress on the mental and physical health of workers l trade union Health and Safety Representatives and stewards l Obstacles to progress l trade union tutors and students l The law l professionals in the field of mental health and occupational health l academics The solution l employees with personal experience of workplace Stress and its effects. l Preventing work Stress (the role of government, employers, trade unions and individuals).

6 L Conducting a risk assessment l Dealing with individual Stress The handbook is available to download free of charge from the work - Stress website ( ) where the reader will find a fund of further information. 4 5. NOTES PART 1: THE PROBLEM. THE EXTENT OF WORKPLACE Stress - related ILLNESS. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) defines Stress as the adverse reaction peo- ple have to excessive pressure or other types of demand placed upon them. Too many workers are trapped in highly stressful environments as a result of poor work organ- isation and negative behaviours in their place of work including bullying, victimisa- T h e p ro b l e m : T h e ex t e n t o f wo r k p k l a ce st re s s re l a t e d i l l n e s s e s tion, harassment, abuse and discrimination.

7 As a result, levels of Stress - related mental and physical illness caused or made worse by work are very high. Those at the bottom of the workplace pecking order are often the major victims of Stress - related illness. Sufferers are not weak individuals who are incapable of coping with the normal de- mands of working life. The reverse is often the case, and it can be those who refuse to bend under these pressures and who refuse to admit to themselves that they are being overwhelmed who often succumb to incapacitating Stress - related illnesses. We can describe highly stressful workplaces as dysfunctional' because they work to the benefit neither of the employee nor of the employer.

8 The former can suffer from a range of Stress - related mental and physical illnesses and the latter reaps this harvest in terms of low productivity, low employee morale and rapid staff turnover. Instead of taking measures to prevent this epidemic of injury, too often managers or employers make excessive demands, neglect their common-law duty of care and clearly ignore the cost to their organisations of sick pay, long-term absence, reduced Signs of a dysfunctional workplace l use of technology to control, monitor and track workers l the threat of, or actual violence (verbal and/or physical abuse).

9 L lack of a clear job description or chain of command l job insecurity l lack of an understanding leadership l cuts in government and local government funding leading to increased workloads l long-hours culture l no recognition or reward for good job performance l no opportunity to voice complaints l managers do not listen to and act upon concerns raised l lack of employee representation and consultation l lack of control l no opportunity to use personal talents or abilities l inadequate time to complete tasks to personal or company standards l unreasonable workload l unremitting or prolonged pressures l confusion caused by conflicting demands l misuse of procedures (discipline/ performance/ absence).

10 Fig 1. 6 7. productivity and potential claims for compensation by workers made ill by their neg- Some occupational groups have particularly high levels of work - related Stress : ligence. However, it is the human cost of work - related Stress , in terms of wrecked Stress is more prevalent in public service industries, such as education; health and lives and relationships, debilitating mental and physical illness and sometimes, trag- social care; and public administration and defence. By occupation, jobs that are ically, death that should concern us most. common across public service industries (such as healthcare workers; teaching pro- fessionals; business, media and public service professionals) show higher levels of Stress as compared to all jobs.