An independent review on how employers can better support the mental health of employees, including those with mental health problems or poor well-being, has been published today.
The Stevenson/Farmer review, Thriving At Work, contains 40 recommendations. They include:-
- all employers should adopt certain mental health core standards, set out in the report;
- public sector, and private sector employers with over 500 employees, should take additional steps, again set out in the report;
- employers should be encouraged by legislation to report publicly on their workforce’s mental health;
- professional bodies should implement training and support measures for their employer members.
The report also states that all employers should:
- Produce, implement and communicate a mental health at work plan
- Develop mental health awareness among employees
- Encourage open conversations about mental health and the support available when employees are struggling
- Provide your employees with good working conditions
- Promote effective people management
- Routinely monitor employee mental health and wellbeing.
The awareness of mental health issues has increased dramatically over recent years which helps to diagnose and treat individuals at an early stage. The RFU welcomes the report and will raise the contents of the document locally in an effort to work with all services to produce and deliver a workable, relevant and meaningful mental health at work plan.
This will be a challenge in some areas as a number of fire authorities still do not record the sickness absence of their On-Call staff. Despite this it is imperative that efforts are made both locally and nationally to continue the progress that has been made in recent times and continue to improve the health and wellbeing of our members, the publication of this report will be a big step to aid this ongoing work.
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