HSE workplace stress tool revised
28 February 2022
There has been a number of stories here and elsewhere recently highlighting the issue of workplace mental health and the need for measures to protect employees, showing that greater priority is being given to the subject in the wake of the pandemic.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has updated and expanded its Stress Indicator Tool (SIT) in collaboration with the University of Hull. This is to take account of significant changes to working practices, including technological innovations that have altered the ways people work.
The HSE says the aim is to explore stress risks that are of most relevance in the context of modern working practices, and to understand how these might be related to mental health outcomes and workforce engagement.
The SIT is an online survey designed to gather data anonymously from employees. A report then summarises their views and experiences and provides recommendations for future improvements.
The HSE says that the questions have been curated by policy experts and are centred around six key areas of work design that, if not managed properly, are known to be the likely root causes. These include: demands, control, support, relationships, role and change.
An organisation can use the tool in four main stages, the first being to build the survey using a set-up wizard, tailoring options to suit their business, with appropriate branding and personalisation if needed. This is then sent out to the workforce and the results can be assessed against accepted management standards. Finally, focus groups can use the report to identify improvements and reduce work-related stress.
The findings can be compared against departments, job roles, locations, age and other parameters. Employee engagement can be measured along with how this relates to employee stress levels and mental health.
While the main reason for such analysis is safeguarding people’s health and wellbeing, there are other benefits, says the HSE. A recent report from Deloitte shows a complex but positive case for employers to invest in the mental health of their employees, with an average return of £5 for every £1 spent. However, there is a large spread of potential returns, varying from 0.4:1 up to nearly 11:1.
The SIT tool is available either for free or as an enhanced premium version. The former can be used by organisations with up to 50 employees, does not include the remote/home-working module and lacks some other functions of the paid-for product.
The HSE is holding webinars on the use of the SIT on Tuesday, 15 March and Thursday, 14 April. For details call 0333 202 5070 or visit the stress section at www.hse.gov.uk
● As previously reported on the blog, the Hire Association Europe (HAE) has announced its United for Mental Strength initiative to encourage sharing of information and assisting organisations in developing potential options to upskill their workforce.
