Acas launches wellbeing guide

News | HSP
26.03.2008

Employment relations service Acas has published new guidance to help businesses promote health in the workplace.

The launch of the new guide coincides with Mental Health Action Week, which runs from 23 to 29 March. Every year, three in 10 employees suffer mental health problems.

The Acas guide, Health, Work and Wellbeing (available free at www.acas.org.uk), offers advice to employers, HR managers and employees.

It covers how to recognise health problems and what makes a healthy workplace, and includes a wellbeing checklist and advice on where to go for more help.

According to the guide, key indicators of a healthy workplace include: confident line managers who are trained in people skills; flexible and well-designed jobs; and an "attendance culture" where managers conduct return-to-work discussions.

Acas chair Ed Sweeney said: "The review by Dame Carol Black shows that creating a healthy workplace has strong benefits for individuals and organisations. It also places a lot emphasis on the role early intervention can play in reducing the problem of ill health at work - this ties in strongly with Acas' 'prevention over cure' approach to dealing with wider employment issues.

"Work can have a positive impact on our health and wellbeing which in turn can boost productivity and effectiveness of a business. Our guide can help businesses to develop good workplace relationships so that managers are fully trained in people skills and employees are valued and content."