‘Cut Stress’ Call to Bosses
EMPLOYERS were today urged to put procedures in place to tackle stress after a major survey revealed wide-spread work related worries among both men and women.
The new survey commissioned by Samaritans and health insurer Medicash has confirmed that women are just as stressed out as men.
The second biggest cause of stress is work according to 45 per cent of men and 32 per cent of women.
The findings of the Samaritans’ Stressed Out Survey supported by Medicash were announced today – national Stress Down Day.
Commenting on the results of the Stressed Out Survey, Sales and Marketing Director at Medicash Peter Lauris said: “It recently came out that just under one third of all working days lost in the UK are due to stress.
“As a result we are encouraging businesses to tackle work- related causes of stress and provide a health plan, with stress counselling and alternative therapies like reflexology and acupuncture, to help their employees deal with the problem sensibly.
” Peter’s view on tackling stress is backed by Professor Cary Cooper of Lancaster University, an internationally recognised expert in the field of workplace stress.
He said: “The survey shows that almost twice as many as three years ago are just ignoring the fact that they’re getting stressed – and many more than before are dealing with it in the worst way possible.
“People need to talk about the stress and anxieties they have, not hide them away. Facing your problems with support is the best first step.
” Work Wise UK, the national campaign backed by the TUC and CBI to promote smarter working practices is supporting national Stress Down Day
Phil Flaxton, Work Wise UK’s, chief executive said: “As an organization which promotes the benefits of smarter working practices, particularly reduced stress through a better work life balance, we support strongly the aims of Stress Down Day.
“Our long working hours culture, fixed around a 9 to 5 day working at a central location, wastes time and reduces the freedom for people to develop a life beyond work. However, this is largely unnecessary.
“Through smarter working people have more control over their lives, allowing more time for family or simply just enjoying life.
” One aspect of working life where smarter working can particularly offer a solution is cutting stress caused by commuting.
“Smarter working can reduce the stress of commuting by reducing the number of journeys, through for example working from home, while flexible working allows people to stagger their travel outside peak periods.”
(c) 2007 Evening Mail; Birmingham (UK). Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.