According to the OECD (Office of Economic Co-operation & Development) Mental illness costs the UK economy an estimated £94 billion per annum in lost productivity, social benefits and healthcare. Because mental health conditions are treated as disability, they immediately fall under the remit of the Equalities Act 2010. The wrong course of action towards an employee with a mental health condition, such as anxiety or stress, can easily lead to a discrimination claim; potentially ending in an Employment Tribunal. And because mental health is a Protected Characteristic, Tribunal awards are unlimited.

Remember, there is no obligation to declare a mental health issue during recruitment and you may not become aware of an employee’s condition until an episode occurs. Having a strategy in place to recognise, manage and support employees’ mental health wellbeing will help you maintain a productive, happy and motivated workforce.

Mental health issues can be complex, diverse and wide ranging. The more common conditions we are aware of include stress, anxiety and depression. These can be bought on by a tough work schedule or deadline or perhaps external factors such as the death of a loved one or physical illness. Additionally severe and enduring mental illness can be life changing.

As employers, our approach to mental health should be the same as any other health condition. We have a duty of care towards our employees and should ensure they are safe and that the work environment is a safe place to be. Because mental health issues don’t generally have any outwardly visible signals like a plaster cast would be for a broken arm, or a streaming nose and red eyes from an allergy, we need to take other steps to identify it.

It’s commonly reported that admitting to having mental issues is shrouded with stigma and is seen as a weakness; especially amongst men. Few people want to admit to being unable to cope or that that are feeling stressed. However this is exactly what needs to change. We should try to create an environment where employees can express their concerns and what is causing them problems.

If we are able to catch the causes of mental health issues early on then we can do something about it, thereby increasing the chances of resolving the issue before it gets out of hand and causes anyone to have to take time off work.

During our seminar, speakers from HR Champions, Menzies Law, and NHS 2gether Trust will talk around a variety of mental health topics. The aim is to equip you with the tools you need to be able to spot the signs of mental health conditions and effectively manage mental health issues as they arise in your workplace.

This seminar will help you:

• Recognise the signs, behaviours and triggers that an employee has a mental health issue
• Understand your legal obligations and duties including making reasonable adjustments and protecting employees from harassment
• Appreciate the risks associated with failing to follow Employment Legislation
• Understand what community support is available for employees with mental health issues
• Create a culture to prevent the stigma of mental health and enable employers to work effectively with sufferers of poor mental health

For help and support with mental health cases, you can as usual call us on 01452 331331 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Or book now to come along to the seminar. Your attendance fee of £50 will be donated to local Mental Health charities.