LRD guides and handbook June 2019

Workplace action on mental health - a trade union guide

Introduction

Introduction [page 3] (440 words)

Mental health and ill health has soared up the news agenda in recent times, but people experiencing mental health problems are still facing numerous ...
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Chapter 1

1. Mental health and ill health [ch 1: page 4] (173 words)

The World Health Organisation says that “mental health is not just the absence of mental disorder” but is “a state of wellbeing in which every ...
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What is mental ill health? [ch 1: pages 4-5] (443 words)

Neurodiversity [ch 1: page 5] (156 words)

Groups particularly affected [ch 1: page 6] (328 words)

Social model of disability [ch 1: page 7] (179 words)

Chapter 2

2. Mental health is a workplace issue [ch 2: pages 8-10] (1,136 words)

In January 2017, as prime minister, Theresa May commissioned an independent review into workplace mental health. It was led by Lord Dennis Stevenson, ...
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Work and suicide [ch 2: page 10] (325 words)

Chapter 3

3. The union role [ch 3: page 11] (61 words)

Union reps and other branch and workplace union activists are in a good position to raise awareness of mental health issues in their workplaces, to ...
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Raising awareness [ch 3: pages 11-12] (352 words)

A ‘listening ear’ [ch 3: page 12] (434 words)

Chapter 4

4. The law and mental health [ch 4: page 13] (142 words)

This Chapter sets out the main legislation covering mental health at work, indicating how it can be utilised by union reps seeking to negotiate over ...
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The Equality Act 2010 [ch 4: page 13] (167 words)

Other legal routes to protection [ch 4: page 13] (106 words)

Mental health and the EA 10 [ch 4: page 14] (415 words)

Disclosure of health conditions [ch 4: pages 15] (219 words)

Does the member have a disability? [ch 4: pages 15-17] (762 words)

Does the employer know about the disability? [ch 4: page 17] (213 words)

Direct disability discrimination [ch 4: pages 17-18] (181 words)

Harassment [ch 4: page 18] (119 words)

Victimisation [ch 4: page 18] (91 words)

Unfavourable treatment in ‘consequence’ of disability [ch 4: pages 18-20] (629 words)

Duty to make reasonable adjustments [ch 4: pages 20-21] (572 words)

Health and safety law [ch 4: page 21] (206 words)

Risk assessment [ch 4: pages 21-22] (349 words)

Chapter 5

5. Making the business case to employers [ch 5: pages 23-25] (1,175 words)

While a number of employers have taken on board the importance of staff mental wellbeing in recent times, there are plenty for whom the moral and ...
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Chapter 6

6. Mental health policies [ch 6: page 26] (371 words)

As with many employment relations issues, an important launch pad for negotiating on mental health at work is to get the employer to sign up to a ...
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Public commitment [ch 6: pages 27-28] (527 words)

Risk assessments [ch 6: pages 28-29] (677 words)

Definitions [ch 6: page 30] (221 words)

Early indicators [ch 6: pages 30-31] (182 words)

Roles and responsibilities [ch 6: page 31] (208 words)

Links with other policies/procedures [ch 6: page 31] (184 words)

Chapter 7

7. Making sure policies are implemented [ch 7: page 32] (37 words)

An employer may have a progressive mental health policy on paper but that means nothing if it is not understood and implemented in practice ...
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Action plans [ch 7: pages 32-33] (574 words)

Line manager training [ch 7: pages 33-35] (708 words)

Mental Health First Aid training [ch 7: pages 35-36] (796 words)

Avoiding an employer’s ‘resilience’ approach [ch 7: page 36] (107 words)

Chapter 8

8. Reviewing workplace procedures [ch 8: page 37] (101 words)

Mental health and wellbeing policies are generally only the start of what is required to foster a healthy workplace which supports people undergoing ...
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Recruitment policies [ch 8: pages 37-40] (1,252 words)

Sickness absence/attendance management [ch 8: pages 40-43] (1,214 words)

Disciplinary and capability procedures [ch 8: pages 43-44] (651 words)

Redundancy procedures [ch 8: pages 44-45] (309 words)

Other helpful policies [ch 8: pages 45-46] (185 words)

Chapter 9

9. Supporting individuals [ch 9: page 47] (178 words)

While Chapters 6, 7 and 8 looked at what union reps might try to negotiate with employers in terms of collective policies and procedures, this ...
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Reasonable adjustments and disclosure [ch 9: pages 47-48] (272 words)

What are reasonable adjustments under the law? [ch 9: page 48] (120 words)

What adjustments might help? [ch 9: pages 48-50] (920 words)

Documenting adjustments [ch 9: page 51] (93 words)

Disability ‘passports’ [ch 9: pages 51-52] (553 words)

Representing members in disciplinary proceedings [ch 9: pages 52-54] (838 words)

Specialist support [ch 9: pages 54-55] (184 words)

Access to Work [ch 9: page 55] (168 words)

Further information

Further information and organisations [page 56] (314 words)

Thriving at work: the Stevenson/Farmer review of mental health and employers : ...
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