Content area
Full Text
BEAUTY THERAPISTS EARN THEIR LIVING BY RELIEVING THE SYMPTOMS OF STRESS IN OTHERS, BUT HOW CAN THEY DEAL WITH THEIR OWN WORKPLACE PRESSURES?
Beauty therapists are highly aware of their role in helping to alleviate stress in others, providing soothing treatments in a perfect relaxing environment - but who is monitoring these hard-working staff?
According to the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), more than half a million people in the UK are experiencing work-related stress to a level they believe is making them ill. In fact, it is the second most common reason for long-term sick leave. But what is really concerning the Government is that stress-related illness is costing the country about £3.7bn a year.
So serious is the HSE about the issue, that it served a landmark enforcement notice against an NHS trust last year to improve its methods of tackling stress or face prosecution. The move has served as a sharp warning to employers that they have a legal obligation to protect the health of their employees.
It has gone on to produce guidelines aimed at all employers, Real solutions, real people: a manager's guide to tackling work-related stress, in a bid to make it clear that the responsibility for staff wellbeing lies with management. HSE spokeswoman, Liz Justice, points out the law has not changed, but the new guidance can take managers through steps in how to deal with the issues of stress in the workplace.
Working together
"There is no specific law about stress, but employers need to ensure a safe and healthy working environment under existing law. The guidance is about how to work together and communicate," she says.
Liz admits that stress can be tricky to define, particularly when something that is stressful to one person may not be to another. "It's important managers recognise this and that people are able to tell them about their concerns. Otherwise, you will get a situation where someone might phone in sick saying they have a bad back, or just not turn up, when it is far better for them to say 'I really can't face it today'". It may not even be a work-related issue that is causing the stress. Someone may have a sick baby or a...