70 million reasons why stress at work must be tackled
25 May 2011
Unite launches Stress at Work survey
Workers' mental health is coming under increasing pressure as
fears over jobs and cuts take their toll in the workplace, says
Unite, the country's biggest union.
Stress at work is fast becoming the major cause of occupational
ill health, as well as opposing the cuts, action to combat the jump
in mental health conditions is urgently needed, the union says.
Some 70 million working days are lost due to stress or poor
mental health. The conditions are also estimated to cost British
business some £8.4 billion a year according to the CIPD (Chartered
Institute of Personnel and Development).
Now, Unite is linking up with leading UK mental health charity
Mind in a bid to measure the true scale of stress and mental health
problems in the workplace, launched at tomorrow's (26 May) TUC
Disability conference in London.
Diana Holland, assistant general secretary of Unite, will say:
"This time of cuts and fears about the future is causing tremendous
anxiety for working people. For many workers these are very
uncertain times. Higher targets, increased workloads, more pressure
and less staff are placing an unbearable strain on workers.
"The good news though is that stress at work is avoidable.
If management carry out risk assessments and act swiftly to put
action plans in place, work-related stress can be tackled. This is
why Unite is calling on all its workplace representatives to
conduct the Stress at Work survey.
"During these anxious times, investing in better mental health
at work is a wise move, which is why Unite is proud to be working
with Mind and members in the Mental Health Nurses Association to
play our part in making working life better for all."
Across the UK and Ireland, Unite members will be conducting the
Stress at Work survey to highlight the issue with a view to
improving workplace policies and processes and stamping out
discrimination against workers with mental health problems.
Unite, its disabled members and its members in the Mental Health
Nurses Association are committed to fighting workplace stress and
to preventing workplace discrimination of people suffering with
mental health problems.
ENDS
Notes to news editors:
For more information visit the
Stress Mental Health campaign pages.
For further information please contact Unite communications
officer Chantal Chegrinec on 07774 146 777
