At Peach we take Mental Health very seriously and we welcome the findings from the Stevenson/Farmer review.
We have extensive experience supporting employees and employers managing complex and often challenging mental health issues and our recommendations for our clients have always had employees mental health at the forefront.
The cost of not managing employees mental health is staggering, with the cost to employers totalling up to £42 billion which includes presenteeism, sickness absence and staff turnover.
The report focuses on reducing the stigma that is attached to mental health and to open lines of communication. There are 40 recommendations put forward in the review, including adopting mental health core standards which provides businesses (big or small) a framework to work towards. This includes;
1. Produce, implement and communicate a mental health at work plan
2. Develop mental health awareness among employees
3. Encourage open conversations about mental health and the support available when employees are struggling
4. Provide your employees with good working conditions
5. Promote effective people management
6. Routinely monitor employee mental health and wellbeing.
Additional recommendations are;
• public sector, and private sector employers with over 500 employees, should take additional steps, again set out in the report;
• employers should be encouraged by legislation to report publicly on their workforce’s mental health;
• professional bodies should implement training and support measures for their employer members.
Click HERE for the full report.
We would be very interested in hearing from those who have struggled with their own mental health in the workplace or those who manage employees who have mental health issues. You can contact us for a confidential chat on 0161 478 3800 or email hello@peachlaw.co.uk.
