Event answers employers’ questions on stress
15th October 2007
A total of 12.8 million working days were lost to stress, depression and anxiety in 2004/5 and work-based stress costs UK business an estimated £3.7 billion a year. Developing a working environment that promotes good mental health is a core part of sustainable employment practices.
Employers' Forum on Disability has teamed up with Unum to look at the little-understood subject of stress and how it can be dealt with effectively in the workplace.
‘Handling stress in the workplace', taking place in London on 7 November, will feature expert speakers and interactive sessions enabling delegates to share experiences and learn from best practice.
Questions set to be asked will include:
- What is stress and whose responsibility is it?
- What are the impacts of long term stress and mental ill health?
- Is work related stress a health and safety issue?
- How can you minimise stress related absence and ensure that you are an employer of choice?
Professor Michael O'Donnell, chief medical officer at insurance firm Unum, says: "Stress needs to be looked at in the same way as any other mental health problem.
"However, employers also need to consider the good and bad aspects of stress and we hope this event will go some way to enabling them to do so."
Employers' Forum on Disability events manager Zeph King says: "Stress is an ambiguous subject, often misunderstood by employers and employees alike.
"This unique event will enable delegates to look at scenarios based on questions from our members with plenty of opportunity to ask the kinds of questions they want answered about stress."
Speakers at ‘Handling stress in the workplace' include: Phil Friend OBE, director, Minty & Friend, Bela Gor, Head of policy and information, EFD, Professor Michael O'Donnell, Chief medical officer, Unum, Susan Scott-Parker, Chief executive, EFD, Mike Wagland, Human resources, BT Global Services, BT and Steve Walter, Director, Making Connections Matter.
About Unum
Unum is the UK's leading provider of group income protection insurance, with over 35 years experience. Our income protection customers benefit from our expertise in the specialist areas of disability, rehabilitation and return-to-work.
We enable individuals to protect their incomes, ensuring their financial security if they are unable to work because of illness or injury. For employers, we safeguard one of their most valuable resources by helping employees return to work following long-term absence.
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Notes to editors
Media enquiries, please contact:
Liz Nightingale, Communications Manager
Employers' Forum on Disability
Email: liz.nightingale@efd.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7403 3020
About Employers' Forum on Disability
Employers' Forum on Disability is the employers' organisation focused on disability as it affects employers and service providers. With over 400 members, EFD represents organisations that employ around 20 per cent of the UK workforce.Since its establishment in 1991, EFD has worked closely with government and other stakeholders, sharing best practice to make it easier to employ disabled people and serve disabled customers.