UK workers are faced with a “line management lottery” when it comes workplace health support.
According to a study conducted by the Royal Society for Public Health, 13 million people are employed in companies where managers do not receive training on how to promote health.
The RSPH said that the situation is especially stark for employees in small and mid-sized businesses (SMEs), as two thirds of them work in organisations in which managers are not trained in this area.
The training to promote health and well-being can include skills like mental health first aid and managing health conditions in the workplace. It may also include signposting and understanding reasonable adjustments.
The Workforce Institute’s research was cited by the society as showing that managers are more influential on an employee’s mental well-being than doctors or therapists.
The RSPH says that line managers can make positive contributions to the health of employees because they are in constant contact.
It has been argued that line managers who receive the proper training can identify warning signs and prevent mental or physical health problems from escalating.
This analysis follows the Department for Work and Pensions releasing its Get Britain Working whitepaper, which included proposals for an independently reviewed role of employers in creating and maintaining healthy workplaces.
The society had previously called for increased workplace health support, arguing that UK workers have a “right to a healthier workplace” and a minimum support level should be introduced to the entire workforce.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has stated that there are 600,000 people who are not working due to long-term illnesses and would like to return to work. 4.1 million are employed with a ‘work-limiting’ health condition.
William Roberts, RSPH’s chief executive, stated: “We must radically rethink how we view the relationship between work and health.
Every day, in offices across the country, there are millions of conversations between managers and their staff. These conversations could be much more valuable with the right skills and training.
This isn’t just about checking boxes. It’s important to ensure that the right people are in the right place and have the support needed to positively impact the mental and physical health of their staff.
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As it stands, the question of whether or not the person responsible for your wellbeing and health at work is properly trained to provide you with support should you need it is a coin toss.
He added, “We hope that the government will take this message to heart and recommend an ambitious minimum level of support for all employees following the review.”
