The Stress Factor

€563m lost through absenteeism, says SFA

The Small Firms Association claims that small businesses in Ireland lose over €563m a year through absenteeism.

Back-pain/injury and stress are the most commonly cited problems on medical certs, according to SFA director Avine McNally.

'Employers should ensure that they are fulfilling their duty of care to their employees by including manual handling and stress when conducting risk assessments as part of their review of their health and safety statements,' she advises.

McNally added, “it is a concern that stress remains one of the high reasons for absenteeism, as aside from the employees’ absence, stress can lead to a less productive workforce, faulty decision-making, and ultimately the possibility of legal action being taken against the company for negligence or constructive dismissal.”

“With a contracting labour market some employees are being placed under additional pressure due to new and different responsibilities. Employers should be aware of the impact of their actions and consider the implementation of a specific policy on workplace stress. They should educate employees on stress management, while being receptive to the potential causes of stress and the early warning signs of stress. On a practical level, they should also ensure that their Employers Liability Insurance will protect them against any compensation awards that may arise from this area”, commented McNally.