How does stress become recognised in the workplace?
Often the most difficult part of the whole process is getting workers themselves to acknowledge that there is a problem. Equally well, managers, employers and Board Directors will try to shy away from the concept, and say that people are wimps, should leave their baggage at home and should ‘pull themselves together’. There is still a great deal of ignorance about. In many cases, employers may just take the recommendations of the Hatton Appeal judgment, and suggest that counselling and other services will provide a resolution. They will also apply heavy sickness absence monitoring procedures and even move to dismiss on the basis that a known psychological illness must clearly make a person unsuitable for that workplace. In organised workplaces, with good Trade Union and Health & Safety representative structures in place, there are forums for raising the issues of sickness absence and leading to proper discussion of the issue and to recognition by the employer that action is necessary.
