Stress is a major cause of sickness absence in the workplace and costs over £5 billion a year in the UK. It affects individuals, their families and colleagues by impacting on their health but it also impacts on employers with costs relating to sickness absence, replacement staff, lost production and increased accidents.
In SMPCS we are committed to protecting the health, safety and welfare of our employees. We recognise that workplace stress is a health and safety issue and acknowledge the importance of identifying and reducing workplace stress.
The School is committed to promoting a good, supportive climate and healthy working culture, where stress is not seen as a personal weakness, and where employees experiencing stress or mental health problems can access appropriate support.
What is stress?
The Health and Safety Executive define stress as "the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressure or other types of demand placed on them". This makes an important distinction between pressure, which can be a positive state if managed correctly, and stress which can be detrimental to health.
The School acknowledges that stress experience is unique and personal to each individual. What is relaxing to one person may be stressful to another. There are so many causes of stress but not all will be work related. For example:
- Difficult relationships at work and/or home
- Financial problems
- Job security