Regional Chartered Accountants Crowther Beard is advising business owners to review a new report from Acas urging businesses to put in place plans to deal with the inevitable rise in employee-related mental health problems caused by the recession.

 

John Painter from Crowther Beard said “The long term effects of the financial downturn will certainly include a rise in workplace stress, which already costs UK organisations around £26 billion each year. Although some analysts believe the worst of the recession has been experienced the impact on workforces throughout the country is expected to be felt far into the future. With the latest figures also revealing that the total number of unemployed has now reached 2.47 million, employees' wellbeing is expected to be damaged even further”.
 
Ed Sweeney, Acas Chair, says in the report, "Implementing procedures to effectively deal with mental health issues in the workplace has strong benefits for individuals and organisations. Early intervention can play a critical part in reducing the problem of ill health at work and this 'prevention over cure' approach will ultimately help businesses and employees save time, stress and money."

 

Suggested procedures include: 

• Training to raise awareness of stress and mental health so that line managers, in particular, can tell if an employee is suffering from additional or excessive pressures
• Individual weekly or monthly meetings between line managers and their team to discuss issues such as workload, training needs, any required support etc.
• Good interpersonal skills  to help nurture trusting relationships with staff who may be anxious about disclosing their mental health problems
• Maintaining up-to-date policies and procedures for managing mental health.

 

Suggested procedures include: Training – to raise awareness of stress and mental health so that line managers, in particular, can tell if an employee is suffering from additional or excessive pressures; good interpersonal skills – to help nurture trusting relationships with staff who may be anxious about disclosing their mental health problems and a supportive organisational structure - that guides managers by providing clear policies and procedures for managing mental health.

 

For more information please contact John Painter FCA, Managing Partner at Crowther Beard in Worcester.

 

 

 

Tel: 01905 454854

Fax: 01905 455232
Mob: 07785 268442

Email: JHP@crowtherbeard.com

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