By Rebekka Cairns, Marketing Manager at McEwan Wallace
Mental Health Awareness Week came with a helpful gift for business owners – the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched a free online learning module to help employers manage work-related stress in the workplace.
Stress Isn't Just a Personal Problem – It's a Business One
According to HSE, around half of all work-related ill health is caused by stress, depression or anxiety. That's huge – and if you run a business, chances are you've felt the impact.
Maybe it's increased sick days, lower productivity, or just a team that seems a bit flat. Whatever form it takes, stress at work doesn't just affect the people – it hits your bottom line too.
And here's the kicker: managing stress at work isn't optional. It's part of your legal responsibilities as an employer. As HSE's Kayleigh Roberts puts it, “Preventing work-related stress isn't just the right thing to do for your workers – it's also a legal requirement.”
A Practical, Free Resource That Could Save You a Headache (or Several)
The new online learning module gives you straightforward guidance on:
- How to spot signs of stress early
- What areas in your workplace might be causing it
- How to carry out proper risk assessments
- What you can do to make things better
It also introduces the 6 key stress risk areas employers should keep an eye on:
Demands, Control, Support, Relationships, Role, and Change – all things that, if not handled well, can create unnecessary pressure on your team.
A Simple 5-Step Approach: The 5Rs
The module follows HSE's '5Rs' framework, which makes tackling stress manageable even for small businesses without a dedicated HR team:
- Reach out – Start the conversation
- Recognise – Spot signs and stress triggers
- Respond – Agree actions and take steps
- Reflect – Check what's working
- Make it Routine – Keep the conversation going
Why You Should Care
Let's be honest – running a business is stressful enough without your team being burnt out too. This new tool won't solve every problem overnight, but it gives you a proper starting point, especially if you're not sure where to begin.
And it's free. You've got nothing to lose and a lot to gain – from happier, healthier staff to a more productive business.
If you want to take a look, you can register for the module here.