Employee wellbeing - focus on Stress Prevention

Employee Wellbeing – focus on stress prevention

We all know prevention is better than cure but sometimes it is difficult to know what prevention measures to put in place until it is too late.  By taking a proactive approach to stress in the workplace you can limit your chance of litigation and also help reduce the costs 
associated with stress related sickness absence.

What is stress?
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) defines stress as “the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or other types of demand placed on them”.  This makes an important distinction between pressure, which can be a positive motivating force if managed correctly, and stress that can be detrimental to health.

Cost of stress to organisations

It is reported that the average cost of stress per employee per year is £1900¹ and costs UK organisations £12 billion per year². After musculo-skeletal problems, psychological problems are the primary cause of sickness absence³ and at any one time: 1:6 (1:5 including alcohol & drug dependence) UK workers will suffer depression, anxiety or problems related to stress.  The average employee absence for those suffering from work related stress  = 22.6 days per year for anxiety and 30 days for depression⁴.  NICE estimates that effective management of mental health in an organisation with 100 employees could save £250,000 per year^.

The law relating to stress

There is no specific law on stress. Instead it is mainly covered by the Health & Safety at Work Act (1974) and the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations (1999), although other acts such as Disability Discrimination Act 1995 & Amendments, Working Time Regulations 1998 & Amendments and Civil Law also come into play (for further details contact us)

Under the Health & Safety At Work Act (1974) both employers and employees have a responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of themselves and others. It is important that employees inform the employer if they are suffering from stress as a result of the workplace.

Management Standards

The HSE has developed a set of management standards to support organisations when addressing workplace stress.

These standards focus on 6 broad categories of risk factors that if managed properly will help your organisation comply with legislation and provide a positive working environment for your employees. 

The Risk factor categories

• DEMANDS (workload & environment)

• CONTROL (choice over how work is done)

• SUPPORT (manager & peer, training, individual differences)

• RELATIONSHIPS (good/bad – e.g. bullying)

• ROLE (overload/ambiguity/conflict)

• CHANGE (need for as well as affect of ‐ how communicated/managed)

The standards

The HSE management standards are a set of goals for organisations to work towards based on each of the stress risk factor categories. They are listed as Standards and Goals - below is the standard for demands:

The standard is that: 

•Employees indicate that they are able to cope with the demands of their jobs; and

•Systems are in place locally to respond to any individual concerns.

Goals to be achieved are: 

•The organisation provides employees with adequate and achievable demands in relation to the agreed hours of work;

•People’s skills and abilities are matched to the job demands;

•Jobs are designed to be within the capabilities of employees; and

•Employees’ concerns about their work environment are addressed.

Where next?

Full details on each of the 6 standards and the specific responsibilities managers have can be found on HSE website.   Organisations should be aware that if they have 5 or more employees it is a legal requirement to have a stress policy in place (this can be built into your health and safety policy).  For training on implementing the management standards please visit our website.                         

To learn more about the benefits of employee health and wellbeing please visit our website: www.mwwellbeing.co.uk or call us on 01562 634926

1 CIPD 2009, 2 HSE 2009, 3 CIPD 2009, 4 Sainsbury's Centre for Mental Health, 2007, 5 NICE 2009.

Employee Wellbeing – focus on presenteeism

Employee Wellbeing – focus on presenteeism

Have you heard the saying 'the lights are on but no one is home'? There could be a genuine reason for employees turning up for work but not being fully engaged and underperforming as a result. With longer working hours, higher performance targets and the threat of potential job losses staff are more conscious of calling in sick than ever before. With the recent news that sickness absence in the UK has reduced it may give cause for celebration but in reality presenteeism (employees being at work but not being fully engaged and underperforming as a result) is costing the UK economy more per annum than absenteeism ¹ but it is often ignored by employers.

So the key question is what action can you take to reduce the negative effects of absenteeism and presenteeism in your organisation?

By addressing the health and wellbeing needs of your staff and creating a positive working environment you will not only see a reduction in sickness levels but you will also create a more productive and engaged workforce. Organisations who take a proactive approach to employee health and wellbeing report up to a 3% return on their investment².

Before implementing any health and wellbeing initiative you need to understand what your objectives for investing are, these could include reduced absence, reduced presenteeism, reduced staff turnover or increased productivity. Below are a few tips to get you started:

· Start analysiing data from within the business; look for absence trends such as high levels of musculoskeletal issues with manual workers, high levels of stress with customer facing staff or other illness such as high cancer and diabetes rates. By building a picture of you business and its needs you can develop a health and wellbeing programme that will address both the business needs but also the needs of the staff.

· Establish the true cost of sickness absence (and other related issues) to your business by using the health, work and wellbeing tool

· . As well as calculating the associated costs you can compare your organisation to those in similar sectors and gain ideas to improve overall health and wellbeing.

· Ask staff if they feel their health and wellbeing needs are being met - you could include a few questions in the annual staff survey or review. It is good practice to ask what staff like about your current offering and what they would change if they could. By seeking employee feedback at an early stage they are more likely to participate in future activities.

· Set up a health and wellbeing working group that looks at ways to implement the health and wellbeing initiative on a practical level. The geographical split of staff may make it more difficult to have a standardised programme or you could have a limited budget and want to look at ways to ensure the biggest impact on the business is achieved. Invite staff from all levels of the business including management as without their buy in the programme is likely to fail!

· Communicate your planned activities at an early to engage staff and to ensure the programme is success.

Workplace wellbeing does not have to be costly, there are simple in house changes you can make that will enhance the working environment for your employees and help you become an employer of choice. My top 5 low cost tips are:

· Set up a health and wellbeing notice board/intranet site and update it regularly with a topic of the month such as healthy eating or physical activity.

· Start a lunchtime walking/running group.

· Have a subsidised fruit basket for employees to encourage healthy eating.

· Put a small space aside for relaxation at break times – include music and soft lighting to help reduce stress and tension.

· Where possible offer flexible working - it will reduce the risk of staff taking a sick day for a 15-minute doctor appointment!

There is lots of free guidance available to business including British Heart Foundation health at work site, BITC with the workwell model and health work and wellbeing with the free Occupational Health Advice Line. For other charities that can help with workplace health and wellbeing visit http://www.mwwellbeing.co.uk/Submit-a-Web-Link/Useful-websites/

To learn more about the benefits of employee health and wellbeing visit our website: www.mwwellbeing.co.uk or call us on 01562 634926

1 Centre for Mental Health calculated that presenteeism from mental ill health alone costs the UK economy £15.1 billion per annum, while absenteeism costs £8.4 billion

2 Nice report PH22 – promoting mental wellbeing at work

Physical Activity

Physical Activity

Welcome to the third of a series of fact sheets aimed at raising awareness on health and wellbeing issues. In this blog we highlight the benefits of incorporating Physical Activity into your daily life and offer some suggestions on how to do this.

What is physical activity?

Physical activity is any activity that helps you to improve or maintain your physical fitness as well as your health in general. Activities could be as simple as doing the housework or walking to the shops.

Why exercise?

Regular physical activity has a number of benefits for your health such as:

· Reduces the risk of developing of coronary heart disease and possibly stroke

· Lowers blood pressure

· Increases good cholesterol (HDL) and lowers bad cholesterol (LDL)

· Reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes

· Strengthens bones and reduces risk of osteoporosis

· Lessens stress and anxiety

· Maintains a healthy weight and reduces body fat

· Increases muscles strength and joint flexibility

Overall, people who do the recommended levels of physical activity can reduce their risk of premature death by 20-30%.

Different types of exercise

Aerobic exercise

Aerobic activities are any activity that makes your heart and lungs work harder. This could include: dancing, walking, cycling, playing football, rugby, badminton or tennis, swimming, jogging or running, doing the garden or housework, taking the stairs instead of the lift. The government recommends at least 30 minutes per day on at least 5 days of the week. You do not have to do all 30 minutes at once it can be broken down into 3 x 10 minutes and will have the same benefits as long as your heart and lungs are working harder(increased heart rate).

Muscle-strengthening activities

Muscle strengthening activities help build or maintain muscles and help to improve your flexibility and balance. This could include: climbing stairs, walking uphill, lifting or carrying shopping, digging the garden, weight training, pilates, yoga or similar resistance exercises that use the major muscle groups. You should aim to do these activities twice a week in addition to your aerobic exercise and on alternate days.

Guidelines for starting an exercise programme

· If you are new to physical activity or have not been active for along time it is advisable to speak to your GP before beginning a new programme

· Start an activity you like doing and that can easily be built into your daily routine – this way you are more likely to succeed

· If you don’t like the thought of exercising on your own make it a social affair and ask a friend along

· Start slowly and gradually build up, if you feel you can do more then do so but don’t rush in

· If you feel chest pain or shortness of breath, stop and rest for a while

· Avoid dehydration by drinking plenty of water

Take small steps

By following these simple steps and building activity into your daily life you will feel much healthier and save money in the process:

· Walk to work (at least 1 day a week if possible)

· Take your bike instead of the car

· Get off the bus or train a stop earlier

· Park the car further away from the office

· Clean the windows instead of hiring a window cleaner

· Start cleaning the car at home rather than going to the carwash

It is recommended you seek medical advice before starting any new exercise programme. For further information on increasing your physical activity please visit:

www.nhs.uk/change4life
www.keepfit.org.uk
www.whi.org.uk

I hope you have found this blog useful. To see our other fact sheets on Health and Wellbeing please visit our website

Wishing you health and happiness

Renée

Healthy Lifestyle

Welcome to the second of a series of fact sheets aimed at raising awareness on health and wellbing issues. In this weeks blog we highlight the benefits of healthy living and offer some suggestions to improve the way you live your life.

Benefits of a healthy lifestyle

By adopting a healthy lifestyle you are likely to reduce your chances of developing illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, liver problems, lung problems and some cancers. Other benefits include:

· You will have more energy

· You should maintain a healthy weight (put less pressure on your bones/joints)

· You will feel more alert and focused

· You will be less stressed, anxious or depressed

So what can you do to stay healthy?

Eat a healthy diet

· AT LEAST 1/3 OF THE FOOD WE EAT should be fruit and veg. This equates to between five portions, and 9 portions per day

· AT LEAST 1/3 OF THE FOOD WE EAT should be starch-based such as cereals, bread, potatoes, rice, pasta – try and eat wholegrain varieties as often as possible

· INCLUDE some dairy every day, this could be a smaller portion of the high fat varieties or regular portion of the low-fat options (milk, fromage frais, cheese, yoghurt)

· INCLUDE at least one portion of meat, fish, eggs and beans/peas/lentils per day. Opt for lean cuts of meat, remove all visible fat (including chicken skin) and grill where possible. Pulses are naturally low in fat and an excellent source of protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals. Aim for at least 2 portions of fish per week (at least one of which should be 'oily' (such as salmon or mackerel).

· LIMIT the amount of food and drink you consume that is high in sugar and fat. If you do fry use a vegetable oil such as sunflower, rapeseed or olive.

· REDUCE salt to the recommended maximum of 6g per day for an adult

· DRINK plenty of water (at least 2 litres per day) and avoid calorie laden drinks

Physical Activity

The Government recommends at least 30 minutes of exercise per day on at least 5 days of the week. You do not have to do all 30 minutes at once it can be broken down into 3 x 10 minutes and will have the same benefits as long as your heart and lungs are working harder(increased heart rate).

Your exercise plan could include: dancing, walking, cycling, playing football, rugby, badminton or tennis, swimming, jogging or running, doing the garden or housework, taking the stairs instead of the lift.

Quit Smoking

If you stop smoking you will reap the benefits straight away. You reduce the risk of getting serious illness no matter what age you give up but the sooner you do so the greater the reduction in risk. If you give up before you are 35 your life expectancy is only slightly less than people who have never smoked and before 50 you decrease the risk of dying from smoking-related diseases by 50%.

Reduce your alcohol intake

It has been said that drinking alcohol in moderation (1-2 units per day) may help to protect you from heart disease. However, too much alcohol can be harmful. So what are the safe limits? It is recommended that: Men should drink no more than 21 units of alcohol per week (and no more than four units in any one day) and women should drink no more than 14 units of alcohol per week (and no more than three units in any one day) The more you drink above these limits the more harmful the alcohol is likely to be. Binge drinking (e.g. 10 or more units twice per week) can be harmful although still in the recommended safe limits.

Lose the extra pounds

If you are overweight you are putting your health in jeopardy. By losing just 5-10% of your body weight you will put less stress on your heart and joints and feel more energised. Adopting a healthy eating programme does not mean starving or depriving yourself - you can still eat the foods you love just in moderation.

Stress less

Not all pressure is bad for you, a little pressure can lead to increased productivity, improved performance and increased motivation, it only becomes a problem when the pressure becomes excessive – this then leads to stress. Stress is thought to have a detrimental affect on our health but this is difficult to prove. It is suggested that increased stress levels can lead to cardiac problems later in life. With a proactive approach and by learning some simple coping mechanisms, you can help to reduce this risk.

I hope you have found this blog useful. To see our other fact sheets on Health and Wellbeing please visit our website

Wishing you health and happiness

Renée

Stress Management

Welcome to the first of a series of fact sheets aimed at raising awareness on health and wellbeing issues. In this weeks blog we are talking about Stress, its signs and symptoms and also offering some simple coping mechanisms to help minimise it.

So what is Stress? The HSE describes stress as:

"The adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or other types of demand placed on them."

Not all pressure is bad for you, a little pressure can lead to increased productivity, improved performance and increased motivation, it only becomes a problem when the pressure becomes excessive – this then leads to stress. Our individual tolerance levels vary, what may be perceived as a stressful situation to one person may be completely comfortable to another.

Stress may seem to appear suddenly but is usually a build up of pressures that become overwhelming and result in your ability to cope. By learning to recognise the symptoms you can reduce your risk of becoming stressed. Some of these symptoms include:

· Becoming more anxious/depressed

· Aches/pains/digestive problems

· Nausea/panic attacks/increased heart rate

· Increase heart rate/blood pressure

· Unhappy/depressed

· Change of eating/sleeping habits

· Dependency on alcohol/drugs/cigarettes

· Mood swings-angry/frustrated/tearful/irritable

Stress is thought to have a detrimental affect on our health but this is difficult to prove. It is suggested that increased stress levels can lead to cardiac problems later in life. A proactive approach and learning some simple coping mechanisms you can help to reduce this risk. Below are our top 10 tips to help you:

1. Recognise what causes your stress and take control

Many of us know we get stressed but often do not take the time to understand what causes it. It could be something simple such as sitting in traffic or the queue at the supermarket checkout but unless you know what causes your stress you will never break the cycle and will continue to place unnecessary stress on yourself.

2. Make time to relax

Relaxation is the perfect antidote for reducing stress. Popular relaxation methods include yoga, meditation, massage, listening to music, reading a book, taking a hot bath and deep breathing. When we are born our natural breathing pattern is to inhale oxygen deep into the Diaphragm, as we grow our breathing becomes shallower and our intake of oxygen is restricted resulting in increased stress on the body. Deep breathing releases tension from the mind and body and will help to reduce stress levels.

3. Organise your time

How much time do you waste during the day worrying about not having enough time? Do you procrastinate on the jobs you dislike and then stress at the end of the day as you have not had time to do them? Could you work smarter (not harder) and make more time for yourself?

4. Take a positive approach

Are you a glass half full or half empty sort of person? The way you see life can have a profound effect on your stress levels. Sometimes our view on a situation is justified but often it is not. By talking to friends or colleagues you will often find that the situation is not as bad as you first thought.

5. Keep yourself fit and healthy

To perform to our optimum level we need to be fit and healthy both physically and mentally. By ensuring we eat a healthy diet, take regular exercise, reduce our intake of alcohol, quit smoking and maintain a healthy weight we will be giving our mind and body the support it needs to be healthy.

6. Connect with others

Things are often not as bad as you perceive them, by talking to a friend or relative about your situation it will help you see things in a new light and address the issue with a more positive approach. When we connect with others it has a positive effect on our emotions and helps reduce our stress levels.

7. Find a hobby

When you are stressed you often spend time focusing on the negatives and the stress can spiral out of control. By engaging in a hobby that you really enjoy and that has no pressures or deadlines will help you take your mind off your stressors. Engaging in a hobby can bring many benefits such as an increase in creative thinking, a heightened sense of belonging and a feeling of achievement.

8. Accept that change is inevitable

Change is happening all the time, how you deal with that change will affect how you feel. If something in your life is not going the way you wish and you have the chance to change it do so. If the situation is out of your control then you have to accept this and move on. Spending time and energy worrying over the issues you have no control over will just lead to more stress.

9. Avoid turning to unhealthy habits

When people are stressed the first thing they often do is turn to alcohol or cigarettes to ease the situation but in reality this only makes it worse. Drinking alcohol may give an instant feeling of calm but side effects include: dehydration, disturbed sleep patterns, sweating, liver disease and addiction. Nicotine is a stimulant and too much makes the body react to trigger the stress response system increasing anxiety symptoms and only exasperating stress levels.

10. Volunteer

People who volunteer their time are often more resilient to stress. You can volunteer your services in many organisations from the National Trust to your local charity shop. Helping those less fortunate than yourself can often lead to reduced stress levels by readdressing your own issues and you can gain so much by connecting with others.

I hope you have found the above blog useful. To see the full factsheet which also offers ideas on how to implement the above points please visit our website

Wishing you health and happiness

Renée