Helping employees with work related stress: employer advice
An Online Stress Audit tool is included in Peninsula's health assured Employee Assistance Programme. This poses a range of detailed questions to help ascertain the employee's personal history. The tool will then perform a stress analysis, including their current stress levels and how they are being affected, condensed into a concise report. The stress audit can also advise on any EAP services which may be beneficial to employees, and offer advice on how to face their problems.
Why invest in managing stress?
Taking care of all facets of employee wellbeing – from fair working conditions to fire safety – is the employer's legal obligation. But it's completely your decision when it comes to work related stress. Helping staff to deal with stress or taking an interest in their stress levels is not a legal obligation for any business. However, it's more than likely that they'll see some improvements if they do.
A bad case of stress could easily be prevented if the signs are spotted in the early stages and any causes nipped in the bud. Furthermore, reducing stress will inevitably lead to reducing absences, as stress contributes directly and indirectly to many illnesses and long-term sick leave. Finally, taking a personal and proactive approach to managing stress among your employees could lead to greater respect and loyalty within your workforce; it's true you reap what you sow when you invest in people, and that is the intention at the core of the Employee Assistance Programme.
What does the EAP stress audit include?
Symptoms of stress can be spotted in any employees who take part in the regular stress assessment. Employees can furthermore use helplines for their personal problems that are adding to their stress levels. If work related stress becomes a health threat, the EAP will cover as many as 8 sessions of face-to-face counselling to help the employee in managing stress. Last but not least, the EAP includes employment law advice for employers concerning stress, and related issues such as long term leave, sick pay, or workplace bullying.
Peninsula's EAP was developed as a framework through which companies can offer staff support. However, managing employee wellbeing is only a small part of being a good employer. To help with the rest, Peninsula clients can get expert legal advice whenever they need it, help with health and safety legislation, and employment law training sessions tailored to their circumstances.
If you're a member of the media and need any more information, would like to discuss case studies for a particular feature, or be added to our media contact list, feel free to contact Sammual-James McLoughlin, Head of Media, Press and Public Relations at Peninsula Business Services.
Website: http://www.peninsula-uk.com/