This equipment was donated by Thompsons solicitors

1. This equipment was donated by Thompsons solicitors Stress: Still a Workplace Killer Wednesday 14th January 2009 Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network

2. Stress in the workplace: Bad for Workers and Bad for Business Ian Draper, UK National Workstress Network Institute of Employment Rights Stress Wednesday 14th January 2009

3. Stress Kills? • Work and its effects • Causes symptoms and effects of stress • Evidence of stress in the workplace • Costs to the individual and the economy • Black Report • HSE Management Standards Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network

4. No one should leave work at the end of the day, less healthy than they were when they arrived …… Work should be health- enhancing TUC Vision Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network

5. Definition of Stress HSE definition “the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or other types of demand placed upon them” Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network

6. Pressure can be enjoyable... • Proportionate to need • Action is possible • Individual capacity is sufficient • Duration is limited • Reward is available • There is no such thing as ‘good stress’ • But what happens if pressures are uncontrollable? … … … Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network

7. ? Who’s winning the race? Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network

8. The body under normal conditions The body under pressure Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network

9. The body under stress... • No respite? = Excessive hormone output • Adrenalin - Heart rate, muscle tension, breathing • Noradrenalin, Cortisol, Thyroxin – increase blood sugars, energy, quick reactions • Endorphins – natural pain killers • Cholesterol – repairs damaged cells, clotting agents • Chronic release is harmful, auto immune system lowered • Cardiovascular illnesses, digestive complaints, respiratory problems • Psychological illnesses, Migraines, PMT, Cancers……………………… • Premature death? Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network

10. What causes stress? Change Lack of control Excessive demands Insufficient information Job insecurity Performance pressures Anxiety and fear Bullying managers Boredom Environmental factors Moving House Mortgage etc Grief and bereavement Divorce Pregnancy & Birth Teenage troubles Family stress In-laws and Parents And More! Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network

11. Recognising stress - here are some symptoms • Physical • Loss of appetite/craving for food under pressure. • Indigestion/heartburn • Constipation/diarrhoea • Insomnia • Tendency to sweat/Nervous habits • Headaches/Cramps muscle spasms • Nausea, Breathlessness • Fainting spells • Loss of libido • Eczema • Cardio-vascular illness and cancers Behaviour • Irritability • Indecision • Loss of sense of humour • Feelings of anger • ‘Rushing’ from one thing to another • Withdrawn/ feeling of being victimised • Feeling unable to cope • Tearfulness • Lack of interest in doing things after work • Constant tiredness Do you recognise any of this in yourself or others? Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network

12. Coping Strategies? Cary Cooper studied stress in teachers Alcohol 88% drank 11+ units 21% drank 20+ units 22% used it to relieve stress Smoking 19% smoked 37% had increased smoking 9% used it to relieve stress Prescribed medication 28% on anti-depressants 23% on sleeping pills Leaving the job 65% had actively sought to leave 27% still seeking to go Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network

13. What to do? • Relax • Eat healthily • Exercise • Prioritise • Be assertive • Take time out • Have a laugh!! But, coping strategies alone are not the solution Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network

14. TUC Safety Representative Surveys Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network

15. What are the costs of workplace stress? • 13 million days a year, work-related stress is the biggest occupational cause of lost working days across the economy • Over half a million individuals in Britain experience work-related stress at levels which make them ill. • CBI 2004 survey of 500 firms, found the average private industry worker took 7.2 days off sick per year. • Nationally private sector believes sick-leave costs £1.75 billion with the loss of at least 25 million working days in a year. • What impact is this having? • What action is being taken to reduce this drain on the workforce and the economy? Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network

16. WORK Kills, Injures and Makes us sick! • Official Figures GROSSLY under estimate ill-health due to work • HSE Headline figs: • 241 killed by work 2006/7 • 2,037 deaths due to mesothelioma + same lung cancer • 6,000 cases of occupational cancer per year - 4% • 2.2 million made ill by work - 646,000 new cases • 36 million working days lost – 30 million due to work related ill-health, 6 million due to workplace injury • Incident deaths are tip of iceberg…… • HSE est. deaths due to occ illness at about 10,000 Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network

17. Hazards and other more realistic estimates • 1,500 to 1,700 killed in work related incidents every year • HSE figs 241 + members of the public 369 (246 suicides or trespass on railways) = 610 • About 30 at sea • About 1,000 in work-related road traffic incidents • About 100-250 suicides Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network

18. Hazards Campaign estimates of deaths due to Work-Related illness Up to 50,000 killed by work related illness • Includes 18,000 by work-related cancer at 12% (8-16%) at least 5,000 due to asbestos cancers • Heart Disease – 20% of deaths work related due to stress, long hours, shift work = up to 20,000 • Respiratory Illness -15-20% of obstructive lung disease = about 6,000 • Other diseases inc. restrictive lung diseases = about 6,000 • Giving Total of up to 50,000 per year- • HSE headline figs 241 killed by work!! • About 100-250 suicides Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network

19. Costs – individual and corporate • The individual’s health, well-being, family and relationships • Sick pay costs, loss of income, loss of position and career development • Employer costs of lost work, replacement worker, loss of continuity and expertise • National costs through Benefits, medication, treatments and long-term absence Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network

20. Stress and Mental Health: the scale of the problem • 11 million working age people are affected by mental health problems • The cost GB economy > £40 million year • In England, these cost: • £15.1 billion due to presenteeism • £8.4 billion due to absenteeism • Compared with other disorders, mental health problems account for more: • claimants of incapacity benefit (41% of the total - up from 26% 10 years ago) • new claimants of DLA (23% of the total) (Royal Coll of Psych) Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network

21. Wider effects of Mental Health problems • Labour supply: • 0.9m of people not currently working due to mental health problems, could realistically be considered employable • Losses from long-term absence associated with non-employment are 2.6x as large as those from short-term absence • If all employed, the UK workforce would increase by 3% Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network

22. Quantifying the costs of Mental Health at Work • Costs of sickness absence: • 40% sick days are due to mental health • directly work related absences are estimated to cost £1.26bn a year - £50 per employee • Cost of replacing staff: • average cost of job change to employers = £11,625 • £2.4bn spread over the workforce = £95 per employee • Costs of reduced productivity at work attributable to mental health: • accounts for 1.5x as much time lost as absenteeism • equivalent of £605 for every employee in the UK workforce Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health, 2007 Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network

23. How does this affect different occupations? • Presenteeism costs more to employers than absence – more likely amongst higher paid staff • Younger workers are more likely to be absent from work for short durations • Training for line managers, forms of intervention, etc. need to be tailored to individual sectors so that the delivery is targeted Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network

24. Conclusions • Stress and Mental Health are major problems which need to be tackled • Responsibility for tackling them is shared – government, healthcare professionals, line managers, employees Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network

25. Seeking the Solution? • Undertaking a full and effective commitment to the identification and eradication of the causes of work-related stress – risk assessment approach across the board in every workplace • Adopting a ‘Dignity at Work’ approach • Creating a ‘caring supportive culture’ • Developing a meaningful and effective understanding of mental health in the workplace Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network

26. HSE Stress Management Standards Online Assessment tool supporting risk assessment approach to:- • Demand– including workload, work patterns and environment • Control– how much say a person has in the way they do their work • Support – includes sponsorship, encouragement and resources provided by the organisation and colleagues • Relationships – including with all levels of co-employees, managers etc • Role – relating to all aspects of job requirements • Organisational Change – structural and organisational changes Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network

27. Stress – still a killer in the workplace Impact of the Recession • Business closures • Job uncertainties • Finance sector • Loss of overtime, work, home and possessions Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network

28. Stress – still a killer in the workplace Making a special case? • investing for the future through increased focus on H&S; • avoidance of unnecessary additional stress levels; • keeping staff engaged with open consultation and information exchange; • ensuring stress policy implementation Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network

29. Stress – still a killer in the workplace • Regular E-Newsletters on line • Information Pack • Annual Conference, November 21/22 2009 • Hazards Campaign in UK and Europe • www.workstress.net Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network

30. they must be fit for it;they must not do too much of it; and they must have a sense of success in it. And finally … … … In order that people may be happy in their work, these three things are needed … Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network

31. www.workstress.net Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network