The organsiation that I recently started working at does not have a stress policy or risk assessment tool in place and I have been tasked with drafting it. I would like to find out where in other organisations does your stress policy sit with HR or heallth and safety or is it a joint approach? Would anyone be prepared to share a copy of their stress policy/risk assessment template that you currently use? What training did your managers receive to carry out a stress risk assessment?

That is the first place I looked. Lots of very useful information. However, I'm interested to hear how other organisations have approached it with HR and what training was provided to Managers.

Hi Mrs Noodles, I'm keenly interested in this as well. We have a 'wellbeing' policy which I have recently checked, and the words 'chocolate' and 'fire-guard' spring to mind. I'm busily fleshing out an approach now with the help of colleagues in HR and our occy health consultant (consultant in the professional rather than the managerial sense). I think a lot of it can be done using our behaviours framework, which we have just adopted, and I'm drawing up some short sessions for managers in the kind of management behaviours which will help to avoid stress (HSE have a set of management competencies which they think will develop resilience in teams). But it's a long road ahead, best of luck with your own efforts, John

In my company it sits within the H&S Policy Document. In previous lives it's been H.R. Not sure which is best as it depends I think upon how each sections operate within a business and how much joined up thinking exists!!

In one international company I advised it sat within HR in the UK but I was part of drafting the policy and agreeing how it would be implemented. Managers did receive appropriate training. It's one of those areas where H&S and HR of course work closely together. Regards

It is a bit of a balance between health and safety and hr- it is a health concern but is people orientated, so perhaps even occ health too. There are some quite good introductory courses to identifying signs of stress which I think is what should be concentrated on, trying to nip it in the bud before it takes hold. Stress is difficult because there are so many factors involved that may or may not be work related. I think good lines of communication are a must and also understanding of staff- as previously mentioned some people get a buzz from pressure while others don't, and don't forget those who may not be pushed enough- boredom is as bad as having too much on!