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Investing in employees’ health has proven benefits

Work pressures during the recession have caused a rise in stress-related conditions, a new study suggests.

According to leading mental health charity Mind, as many as one in 11 British workers have been to the GP for stress and anxiety related to the financial squeeze. *

One in five admitted that work stress had made them physically ill, and one in four had been reduced to tears at work because of unmanageable pressure.

And it is not only those who have found themselves out of work who are feeling the strain. Mind’s survey of 2,050 workers found that about a third were working harder and nearly half were worried about the security of their jobs because of the recession.

As uncertainty continues with the economy, Mind believes mental health issues will soon become the biggest cause of work-related absence.

For all employers it is important to recognise the issues and to take steps to support staff as well as protect their business in difficult times.

Mind is calling on companies to improve the atmosphere in workplaces and show more understanding about mental health problems. “Working conditions have been incredibly tough for the last couple of years,” said Mind's Chief Executive, Paul Farmer.

“It’s more important than ever that businesses look at how they can manage stress levels and improve the working environment for all their employees.”

It is believed that some companies have cut back on the support they offer workers because of the recession, but there is now growing recognition that this could be a false economy, and offering support to employees at times of stress has major benefits for both employer and employee.

Members of (insert name of your Chamber) can help to tackle these issues by introducing the Westfield Health Chamber Primary Health Plan, which includes an Employee Assistance Programme, now considered an essential part of an employer’s risk management package.

The plan is designed to help employers to manage risk, particularly to protect a company from stress-related claims, and to tackle rising levels of sickness absence.

Employees can access a 24-hour freephone counselling and advice line and up to six face-to-face counselling sessions.

In addition, a GP telephone consultation benefit enables employees to speak to a fully qualified UK GP at a time convenient to them.

The plan also enables employees to claim money back towards the cost of everyday healthcare such as dental treatment and optical care, physiotherapy, acupuncture, chiropractic treatment and diagnostic consultations.

The plan provides fast access to MRI, CT and PET scans, which can detect conditions early at a potentially treatable stage, including serious illnesses such as heart disease, brain disorders and cancer.

For more information about the Chamber Primary Health Plan, please visit www.westfieldhealth.com/chamber or call 0845 6021629, available 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.