Work-related stress: what are employers expected to do?

Mental health at work is not only about how people feel on a particular day. It is also about how work is designed and managed. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is clear that employers have a part to play, and gives practical guidance on how.

What HSE says employers must do

HSE states that employers must protect employees from work-related stress, and that this is done by carrying out a risk assessment and acting on what it finds. Following HSE's Management Standards approach correctly is considered suitable and sufficient. HSE also provides a free workbook, which can be kept as evidence of the steps you have taken.

The six Management Standards areas

• Demands: workload, work patterns and the work environment

• Control: how much say people have over how they do their work

• Support: encouragement and resources from the organisation, line managers and colleagues

• Relationships: promoting positive working and dealing with unacceptable behaviour

• Role: whether people understand their role and conflicting roles are avoided

• Change: how organisational change, large or small, is managed and communicated

Where training fits in

Training does not replace a risk assessment, but it can support it. When managers and colleagues understand mental health, they are more likely to notice when someone is struggling and to know how to respond and signpost to support. Our Mental Health Awareness course is a good starting point, and our Mental Health Ambassador courses go further for people who want to take on a more active role.

We also look at why a safe workplace needs both physical and mental health skills in why every workplace needs both first aid and mental health training. This article is general guidance rather than legal advice.

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