Introduction
The Management Standards approach has been developed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to reduce the levels of work-related stress reported by British workers.
Theoverall aim is to bring about a reduction in the number of employees who go off sick, or who cannot perform well at work because of stress
What are the Management Standards for Work-related Stress?
The Standards and supporting processes are designed to:
■ help simplify risk assessment for stress;
■ encourage employers, employees and their representatives to work in partnership to address work-related stress throughout the organisation;
■ provide the yardstick by which organisations can gauge their performance in tackling the key causes of stress.
The Management Standards cover six key areas of work design that, if not properly managed, are associated with poor health and well-being, lower productivity and increased sickness absence. In other words, the six Management Standards cover the primary sources of stress at work. These are:
■ Demands – such as workload, work patterns and the work environment.
■ Control – such as how much say the person has in the way they do their work.
■ Support – such as the encouragement, sponsorship and resources provided by the organisation, line management and colleagues.
■ Relationships – such as promoting positive working to avoid conflict and dealing with unacceptable behaviour.
■ Role – such as whether people understand their role within the organisation and whether the organisation ensures that they do not have conflicting roles.
■ Change – such as how organisational change (large or small) is managed and communicated in the organisation.
Contact RFC for stress audits, training and strategies to implement the standards
Employers have a duty to ensure that risks arising from work activity are properly controlled. The Management Standards approach helps employers work with their employees and representatives to undertake risk assessments for stress.
Further details are available from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2WA
www.hsebooks.co.uk
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