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Coping with Stress in Today’s
Uncertain Climate
Simon Chilton
Occupational Mental Health Advisor
Simon Chilton - Occupational Mental
Health Advisor
Key Messages
• Employees have a crucial role to play in enabling
employers to provide appropriate support at the
earliest opportunity
• Low levels or a lack of communication can help to
reinforce the symptoms of stress, or associated
illnesses such as anxiety and depression
• Best practice in supporting employees with these
sorts of conditions is very much aligned with
current therapeutic approaches
Simon Chilton - Occupational Mental
Health Advisor
Promoted by
Health & Safety Executive
ACAS
Department for Work & Pensions
NHS
CIPD
Mind
Centre for Mental Health (formerly Sainsbury)
The majority of Sickness Absence Policies
Simon Chilton - Occupational Mental
Health Advisor
Costs of Stress to Employers
• Self-reported work related stress, depression or
anxiety accounts for an estimated 12.8 million lost
working days per year in Britain (HSE)
• After musculoskeletal disorders, stress is by far the
largest contributor to the number of days lost as a
result of work related health in the UK
• Stress is, on average the costliest of all work related
illnesses in terms of days lost per case
Simon Chilton - Occupational Mental
Health Advisor
HSE Defines Stress as:
“Adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or
other types of demand placed upon them…”
ACAS
‘Stress is often a symptom of poor employment relations
and can seriously affect productivity. Organisations
who talk regularly with their employees and have
sound systems and procedures in place for dealing with
issues like absence and discipline are much more likely
to avoid work-related stress and to be able to deal with
potentially stressful situations when they arise.’
Simon Chilton - Occupational Mental
Health Advisor
Barriers to Communication
• Manager feeling that contact would be detrimental to the
person’s condition (in some cases this may be the case)
• A belief that because the person is signed off by their GP,
contact is not allowed
• The employee refuses contact
• Management concerns regarding potential accusations of
bullying and/or harassment
• Management anxieties regarding what to say
• Management believing that they do not have the
skills/knowledge to communicate effectively with the
employee
• Management using OH as the “middle man” in the
conversation
Simon Chilton - Occupational Mental
Health Advisor
Potential Impact of Low levels of
Communication
• Employee feeling increasingly isolated
• Employees negative thoughts about the situation are
not challenged or corrected
• Employee’s anxieties regarding work are exacerbated
• Management feel frustrated/ powerless
• Attempts to resolve work issues are delayed until
employee returns, potentially resulting in those
problems becoming more complex and entrenched
• Employee returns to work, but is still unhappy,
increasing the risk of further stress related absence
Simon Chilton - Occupational Mental
Health Advisor
Advantages to maintaining
Communication
• Work issues can be resolved more quickly, while they are potentially less
complex
• Employees can be made to feel empowered and more in control
• Keeping work on the agenda (especially while employees are absent) can
help to keep anxieties at a more manageable level
• Employee can be given the opportunity to “test out” their ability to cope
in a safe environment
• Returning to work is likely to be more successful if work issues have been,
or are in the process of being resolved
• Employee will feel more supported
• Employers are able to support the employee in maintaining a structure
and routine
• A positive message is sent to other employees regarding the level of
support they will receive in similar circumstances
• A clear message is sent to those employees using the sickness absence
process inappropriately
Simon Chilton - Occupational Mental
Health Advisor
Key Messages
• Employees have a crucial role to play in enabling
employers to provide appropriate support at the
earliest opportunity
• Low levels or a lack of communication can help to
reinforce the symptoms of stress, or associated
illnesses such as anxiety and depression
• Best practice in supporting employees with these
sorts of conditions is very much aligned with
current therapeutic approaches
Simon Chilton - Occupational Mental
Health Advisor
Simon Chilton
Occupational Mental Health
Advisor
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: 07853320131
Simon Chilton - Occupational Mental
Health Advisor