Health & safety news
Royal Mail stress policy
Communication workers' unions CWU and CMA have hailed the first-ever national stress management policy at Royal Mail.
The agreement - which requires Royal Mail to conduct stress risk assessments, consult safety reps, and provide training for management and confidential counselling for staff - is modelled on the Management standards for work-related stress, launched by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) last year.
"In the absence of legislation, the HSE stress standards and our nationally agreed stress policy with Royal Mail are the most effective tool that can be used to help deal with the epidemic of stress-related illnesses," said CWU safety officer Dave Joyce.