Employers must act to stop the stress epidemic

Employers are not doing enough to stem the workplace stress epidemic, according to new research for mental health charity Mind.

Stress and mental health in the workplace, a report published to coincide with the charity's awareness-raising "Mind week" last month, found that 12.8 million working days a year are lost to work-related stress alone, with 58% of workers complaining of job stress. As many as 45 million days are lost to general stress and anxiety conditions.

"Clearly employers cannot afford to ignore the issues arising from the ever-increasing levels of occupational stress, and the long-hour culture of working Britain," said Richard Brook, Mind's chief executive. "We urge for more understanding and openness of stress and mental health problems in the workplace."

Written by stress consultants Robertson Cooper, the report identified the main sources of stress as poor working conditions, long hours, relationships at work, job insecurity, travel, organisational structure and climate, and generally a mismatch between job requirements and the individual's capabilities, resources or needs. It also found that fewer than one in 10 companies has an official policy on mental health.

Mind is calling on employers to act now to address the rising stress levels at work. It recommends that employers introduce official "mental health in the workplace" policies, as well as flexitime, working from home, stress coaching, on-the-job support, keeping jobs open during sick leave, provision of quiet rooms, exercise provision, training programmes and social activities.

Brook also criticised government initiatives to force mentally ill people back to work: "We look to the government to develop an effective system to support those with mental health problems returning to work - the current Pathways to Work pilots raise grave concerns."

Stress and mental health in the workplace is available at www.mind.org.uk/Mindweek/report.htm