Government-commissioned review into mental health at work


A government-commissioned review published in October 2017, Thriving at work, concludes that poor mental health costs 300,000 jobs a year. The review also highlights endemic “presenteeism” (coming to work when unwell). The government has asked NHS England and the civil service to accept the recommendations.


The review suggests the following voluntary “core standards” for employers:


• to produce, implement and communicate a mental health at work plan;


• to develop mental health awareness among employees;


• to encourage open conversations about mental health and the support available to struggling employees;


• to provide good working conditions and ensure that employees have a healthy work-life balance and opportunities for development;


• to promote effective people management by line managers and supervisors;


• to routinely monitor employee mental health and wellbeing.


Other recommendations include creating an online wellbeing portal and using digital technology to support workers in the gig economy, changing the law to increase “transparency” by, for example, requiring large employers to report on employee mental health in their annual reports, and redesigning SSP to increase flexibility, in particular to support the use of phased returns to work. 


Unions welcomed the review but warned that nothing will change without improved rights for workers and a reversal of cuts to mental health services implemented since 2010.


https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/658145/thriving-at-work-stevenson-farmer-review.pdf