Managing Stress

Managers play an important role in the management of stress at work.

For instance:

They can prevent (or conversely cause) stress by the way that they behave towards employees
Their influence may mean employees can be protected from, or exposed to, stressful working conditions
They work closely with their team and are well positioned to identify stress in others at an early stage
If one of their employees suffers from stress, they, as the line manager, are likely to be involved in the solution
The managers toolkit contains all the information managers need to help prevent stress in the workplace, and protect individuals who suffer from stress whatever the cause.

Stress Management Policy Statement

Leeds Metropolitan has a commitment to provide a healthy working environment that values wellbeing and diversity, makes efficient and imaginative use of resources, promotes professionalism and good governance. This commitment exists alongside its wider legal obligation to provide a healthy and safe working environment for its employees, students and members of the public who may be affected by its activities. This includes the protection of its employees from work-related stress incurred through excessive or prolonged work pressure, or a poor working environment.

In order to achieve this aim the University undertakes, so far as is reasonably practicable, to:

Implement stress management arrangements that are considered best practice and go beyond minimum compliance with relevant health and safety legislation
Undertake risk assessments at an organisational and local level to identify workplace stressors and assess the level of risk to anyone who may be exposed to them
Implement control measures at an organisational and local level to ensure that risk associated with exposure to workplace stressors is controlled to an acceptable level
Implement effective policies and procedures to ensure a supportive and inclusive working environment free from discrimination, harassment and bullying
Provide an employee assistance programme and other measures to assist managers and employees affected by stress caused either by work or external factors
Provide information and training to line managers to ensure awareness and understanding of workplace stressors and related stress management procedures
Consult and liaise directly with trade union representatives to ensure effective communication and co-operation on the management of work-related stress
Provide a central advisory function to support line managers implement stress management procedures and control measures at a local level
Monitor and review the effectiveness of this Policy Statement and the supporting Stress Management Plan
Provide suitable and sufficient resources to meet the objectives set out in this Policy Statement.