Does your business have a stress and mental wellbeing policy?

With up to 84% of people experiencing a mental health problem at some point in their lifetime*, how employers support their employees’ mental health is becoming key to a company’s success.

A business not only has a legal obligation to look after its staff, but also the culture an organisation presents and lives can be hugely beneficial in both attracting and retaining colleagues, as well as creating a productive and prosperous working environment.

Benefits for employees

Building better workplace relationship

Having a mental health focused policy can create and improve relations, trust and confidence between employees and their employers – by encouraging them to confide in others in relation to their own personal mental health and how this might impact them at work.

Creating a better work environment

Employees will be reassured that should they ever need help or support, the business is equipped to help them, meaning that they can work in an environment they feel safe in.

Obligations on employers

‘Duty of Care’

Employers have a ‘duty of care’ meaning that they must do all they reasonably can to support their employees’ physical and mental health, safety and wellbeing.

This includes:

• Making sure that the working environment is safe.
• Protecting staff from discrimination.
• Carrying out risk assessments.

Contact

It is important for employers to regularly ask their employees how they’re doing. This should help employees to be open and honest about how they are feeling. The sooner an employer becomes aware of a mental health problem, the sooner they can provide help and support.

What is a stress and mental health policy?

A stress and mental health policy should ideally cover some of the following points:

• Who is responsible for the policy?
• The business’ approach to mental wellbeing in the workplace.
• How the business supports the implementation of this policy.
• Addressing work-related stress.
• Protection for those reporting stress.

To understand more about the drafting and implementation of a stress and mental wellbeing policy and how it can benefit your organisation, please get in touch with our specialist and award-winning Fosters In House team.

*Norfolk and Waveney Mind, homepage 2023.