Following the release today of new guidance on stress in the workplace by NICE, Bay MP Adrian Sanders is calling on public sector bodies in Torbay to do more to reduce workplace stress, leading to fewer absences and higher productivity.
Figures gained from Torbay Council show that in the last two years almost 200 individual staff were absent on one or more occasion due to stress and other psychological factors. This is on top of over 160 Torbay school staff missing work for the same reasons.
Mr Sanders raised the matter in Parliament with the Education and Local Government Departments. While the Schools Minister outlined a range of measures the Government is taking in schools to reduce teacher stress, the Local Government Minister confirmed that no such system is in place for councils.
Adrian commented: “There are a number of factors in the workplace that cause stress: bullying, poor management, limited resources, too great a workload or simply an unattractive working environment. To raise morale, gain more productivity from staff and more importantly reduce stress, all public bodies should do more to seek out problems that could lead to stress and take action before staff feel the need to miss work.”
“The new NICE guidance is a good step forward but for local government especially there seems to be a need to up the game in promoting staff well being.”
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