IOSH Wellness Seminar Set for Feb. 24
"Work-related stress is often a hidden problem, as people can be reticent to talk about their issues. In turn, the management chain can often not be as aware as they should be of the stress-related issues that their workforce is facing," IOSH Midland Branch East District Chair Les Pearce said.
The IOSH Midland Branch East District is hosting a seminar on Feb. 24 on employee wellness -- specifically what employers can do to reduce time lost to stress, anxiety, and depression and to improve staffers' well-being. According to IOSH, about 9.9 million workdays were lost in Britain during 2014-15 because of these factors.
Experts in mental health, business resilience, and workplace safety and health will discuss their success stories and offer tips on managing work-related stress risks during the seminar in Warwickshire, which is located near Birmingham.
"Work-related stress is often a hidden problem, as people can be reticent to talk about their issues. In turn, the management chain can often not be as aware as they should be of the stress-related issues that their workforce is facing," District Chair Les Pearce said. "The importance, therefore, of management having a real understanding of what is happening within their company cannot be underestimated. We want this event to bring the issue to the fore and show just how investing in health and well-being can bring a real benefit to both employees and employers."
The seminar will be chaired by Ann McCracken, director at the stress, resilience and well-being consulting firm AMC2. Representatives of mental health charity MIND, the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS), the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) will be sharing best practices.
The event is the East District's annual memorial seminar dedicated to John Lawley, who devoted more than 40 years of his life to IOSH and promoting improved safety for all.