LRD guides and handbook

Latest guide and handbook - Stress and mental health at work

Work-related stress and poor mental health are top priorities for trade unions. Regulators have also consistently listed work-related stress as one of the main causes of workrelated ill health and short and long-term sickness absence. The impact on workers can be devastating, with symptoms including physical and psychological damage, leading to harmful behaviour such as drinking too much alcohol, abusing drugs or smoking. In the worst cases, even workrelated suicide. Though the latest HSE figures show that 776,000 workers were suffering from work-related stress, depression or anxiety, it is often ignored by employers and the regulator, with research showing stress has not been the subject of any ‘successful’ prosecutions in the past 10 years. This guide sets out the main causes and symptoms of workrelated stress and poor mental health, the legal framework that applies and case law examples that reps will find helpful in their work, how to use the HSE Management Standards, and the range of union campaigning and communication activities to prevent stress, making clear the importance of using a collective approach. It also looks at work-related suicide and the role of the coroner. Use this guide to better understand the rights of Safety Reps, the duties employers’ should act on, and what can be done to improve workplaces to ensure that the causes of stress and poor mental health are properly addressed.

LRD guides and handbook all issues

The popular LRD Guides and Handbooks provide invaluable information on a range of trade union and labour movement concerns. Seven to eight booklets are usually produced each year. There are guides to issues that are permanently on the trade union agenda - such as health and safety, state benefits and sick pay - as well as rapid analysis of new developments affecting trade unionists - such as new employment laws and codes.