Stress Policy Development

What is a stress policy?

A stress policy is a formal written statement explaining the action an employer is taking with regard to stress and mental health problems in the workplace.
 
The aims are to promote mental well-being, prevent stress and mental health problems from occurring if possible, and to state what will be done if there are employees having problems.

Why develop a policy?

The development of such a policy has become essential for a number of important reasons.  These can be legal, political, business, and/or ethical and moral reasons.  Perhaps the most important reasons are related to risk.  A good stress policy, effectively implemented, will minimise the risk of stress both to individual employees and to the organisation.

How In Equilibrium can help

In Equilibrium can help with policy development and implementation in a number of ways, for example by helping you conduct a stress risk assessment or by providing appropriate training for managers.

Download our free Stress Policy Guide

However, we recommend that you first download our free Stress Policy Guide (4th edition 2006), available on our stress management resources page, which contains essential background information and detailed guidance on the stages of development and implementation.   In line with recent developments, including legal changes and the Government’s welfare reform agenda, the latest edition places more emphasis on mental health and well-being, and contains an updated ‘model policy’.

We can also provide you with consultancy feedback on your policy.  Please contact us for details.

Stress Policy Guide content summary

• What a stress policy is
• Including mental health and well-being?
• Who is this guide for?
• What this guide aims to do
• What is stress?
• The risk to employees
• The risk to employers
• The risk of legal action by employees
• Stress-related personal injury cases
• Increased risk of disability discrimination cases
• Possible future risk of criminal prosecution
• HSE guidance on the management of workplace stress
• HSE stress management standards
• Policy implications of legal/HSE developments
• Why introduce a policy on stress?
• How to develop and implement your policy
• Preparation
  • Preparation stage checklist
• Benchmarking: where are you now?
  • Benchmarking stage checklist
• Writing the policy and development of structures
  • Model stress policy
  • Writing and development stage checklist
• Implementation
  • Implementation stage checklist
• Evaluation and review
  • Evaluation and review stage checklist