January 2009 Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network
This equipment was donated by Thompsons solicitors
Stress: Still a Workplace Killer
Wednesday 14th January 2009
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
January 2009 Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network
Stress Kills?Stress Kills?
Work and its effectsCauses symptoms and effects of
stressEvidence of stress in the workplaceCosts to the individual and the
economyBlack ReportHSE Management Standards
January 2009 Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network
No one should leave work
No one should leave work
at the end of the day, less
at the end of the day, less
healthy than they were
healthy than they were
when they arrived ……
when they arrived ……
Work should be health-
Work should be health-
enhancingenhancing
TUC Vision
January 2009 Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network
Definition of StressDefinition of Stress
HSE definition
“the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or other types of demand placed upon them”
January 2009 Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network
Pressure can be enjoyable...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? … … …
January 2009 Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network
Who’s winning the race? ??
January 2009 Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network
The body under pressureThe body under pressure
The body under normal conditionsThe body under normal conditions
January 2009 Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network
The body under stress...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?
January 2009 Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network
What causes stress?What causes stress?Moving HouseMortgage etcGrief and bereavement DivorcePregnancy & BirthTeenage troublesFamily stressIn-laws and ParentsAnd More!
ChangeLack of control Excessive demandsInsufficient informationJob insecurityPerformance pressuresAnxiety and fearBullying managersBoredomEnvironmental factors
January 2009 Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network
Recognising stress - here are Recognising stress - here are somesome symptomssymptoms
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
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
Do you recognise any of this in yourself or others?
January 2009 Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network
Coping Strategies?Coping Strategies?Cary Cooper studied stress in teachers
AlcoholAlcohol88% drank 11+ units21% drank 20+ units22% used it to relieve stress
SmokingSmoking19% smoked37% had increased smoking9% used it torelieve stress
Prescribed medicationPrescribed medication28% on anti-depressants23% on sleepingpills
Leaving the jobLeaving the job65% had actively soughtto leave27% still seekingto go
January 2009 Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network
What to do?What to do?
Relax Eat healthily Exercise Prioritise Be assertive Take time out Have a laugh!!
But, coping strategies alone are not the solution
January 2009 Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network
TUC Safety Representative TUC Safety Representative SurveysSurveys
Stress Listed 66% 56% 58% 61% 60%
Stress Factors 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008Workload 74% 80% 79% 76% 73%
Staffing Cuts 53% 50% 49% 57% 58%
Change 44% 52% 47% 53% 50%
Long Hours 39% 41% 37% 34% 35%
Bullying 30% 28% 27% 33% 40%
January 2009 Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network
What are the costs of What are the costs of workplace stress?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?
January 2009 Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network
WORK Kills, Injures and WORK Kills, Injures and Makes us sick!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
January 2009 Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network
Hazards and other more Hazards and other more realistic estimatesrealistic 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
January 2009 Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network
Hazards Campaign estimates of Hazards Campaign estimates of deaths due to Work-Related deaths due to Work-Related illnessillness
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
January 2009 Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network
Costs – individual and Costs – individual and corporatecorporate
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
January 2009 Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network
Stress and Mental Health: the scale of Stress and Mental Health: the scale of the problemthe 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)
January 2009 Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network
Wider effects of Mental Wider effects of Mental Health problemsHealth 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%
January 2009 Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network
Quantifying the costs of Quantifying the costs of Mental Health at WorkMental Health at Work
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
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
Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health, 2007
January 2009 Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network
How does this affect How does this affect different occupations?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
January 2009 Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network
ConclusionsConclusionsStress and Mental Health are major
problems which need to be tackled
Responsibility for tackling them is shared – government, healthcare professionals, line managers, employees
January 2009 Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network
Seeking the Solution?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
January 2009 Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network
HSE Stress Management HSE Stress Management StandardsStandards
Online Assessment tool supporting risk Online Assessment tool supporting risk assessment approach to:-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
January 2009 Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network
Stress – still a killer in the Stress – still a killer in the workplaceworkplace
Impact of the Recession Business closures Job uncertainties Finance sector Loss of overtime, work, home and
possessions
January 2009 Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network
Stress – still a killer in the Stress – still a killer in the workplaceworkplace
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
January 2009 Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network
Stress – still a killer in the Stress – still a killer in the workplaceworkplace
Regular E-Newsletters on line Information PackAnnual Conference, November 21/22 2009 Hazards Campaign in UK and Europe www.workstress.net
January 2009 Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network
they must be fit for it;they must be fit for it;they must not do too much of it;they must not do too much of it;
and and they must have a sense of success they must have a sense of success
in itin it..
And finallyAnd finally … … … … … … In order that people may be In order that people may be happy in their work, these happy in their work, these three things are needed …three things are needed …
January 2009 Ian Draper, UK National WorkStress Network
www.workstress.net