There’s never been a more important time for businesses to look after their staff and manage stress.

Free ‘Stress Management in the Workplace’ seminars will help managers to identify and support employees affected by stress.

The 1 day workshops, on November 4, January 27 and February 25, are being organised by Brighton & Hove City Council and the Primary Care Trust.

They are open to all employers and managers in the city, although booking is essential as only 12 places are available on each course.

Run by a stress management consultant, the seminar will teach managers how to identify and reduce stress at work including recognising when someone is under too much stress. It will also cover how to make a stress risk assessment, legal implications and obligations and how to develop action plans to reduce and manage stress in the workplace.

Workplace stress is one of the biggest reasons for short and long term sickness absence in the UK.

Stress is a natural reaction and while “positive” stress can be good for us, when work pressure and demands are too high, or stress is experienced over a long time, it can become detrimental to health.

Too much stress can lead to colds, infections, backache, chronic heart disease and heart attacks and a recent study from UCL confirmed that stress can kill.

Around 5 million people in the UK feel their work is 'very' or 'extremely' stressful, and in 2004/5 12.8 million working days were lost to stress, depression or anxiety. Stress has also overtaken musculoskeletal disorders as the biggest contributor to working days lost. Sickness absence is a major cost to 90% of businesses, resulting in an average cost per employee of £659 every year.

Under health and safety law, employers have a legal duty to tackle the effects of workplace stress.

Managing workplace stress effectively can result in reduced sickness absence, better performance, improved commitment, reductions in accidents and improved customer services, productivity and profitability and can maximise business potential.

For more information or to book a free place today call: 01273 294557 or e-mail: louise.sigfrid@brighton-hove.gov.uk , Healthy Workplace Adviser, Brighton & Hove City Council

www.workwellbrightonhove.nhs.uk