Abstract

Richard Wakerell is a Mental Health training officer for Plymouth and District Mind. In this article, he argues that we care often more for cars and computers than we do our staff in workplaces all across Europe. The result is disastrous with much money lost in our economies through lost production, sick pay and customer dissatisfaction. Richard argues that while stress is not a medical condition it is linked to mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. In this article, Richard Wakerell identifies the causes of stress. He offers a checklist of signs of bad managers, a big cause of labour stress. The article concludes on a positive note. The signs of stress can be detected easily and actions can be taken to change things for the better. When some employers try to say that training costs too much to improve workplaces, Richard asks - given the massive cost of poor practice - if anyone who is serious about running a good business can afford not to address this issue!