July 14, 2003—The UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has just launched a pilot project to help organizations tackle stress in the workplace. Up to 13.4 million days a year are lost due to stress at work in the UK, and although guidance has been available for almost a decade, the Health and Safety Commission wanted an innovative approach which would provide the tools for bosses and workers to tackle the challenge in their own firms.
Twenty-four organizations representing both public and private sectors across England, Scotland, and Wales are involved in the formal pilot study, which began in March 2003 and is expected to run until fall 2003. Called Management Standards for Stress, the blueprint is now being placed on HSE’s Web site to encourage all sizes and all types of companies to try the approach. Any feedback they provide will be incorporated when the system is formally developed for launch in 2004.
