Take care of your workers, charity urges bosses

NATIONAL charity Shaw Trust has urged employers to take more care of their workers’ health problems, after a recent unfair dismissal win.

The charity spoke out after the case of Horsham railway station supervisor Bob Mallett, from Littlehampton, who won almost 18,000 compensation after he lost his job after a period of depression.

An employment tribunal found that he had been discriminated against and unfairly dismissed on grounds of his disability.
We’re living in the 21st century, not the 19th. There is plenty of expert help available to support both employers and their employees, says Ian Charlesworth, MD of the UK’s largest provider of employment services for disabled and disadvantaged people.

This case underlines the very real problems faced by employers and employees with mental health and one in four of us will suffer some form of mental ill health in our working lives.

Employers should take these kind of problems very seriously, and seek help. There are very successful retention and condition management services in place to stop problems turning into a crisis.

It costs an estimated 4,800 to replace a member of staff, rising to 7,000 for managers and professionals, and that’s without the added cost if the worker has to leave and go onto Incapacity Benefit*.

For further details about Shaw Trust’s Staying in Work retention and condition management services, log on to www.shaw-trust.org.uk

* Source: CIPD, Recruitment, retention and turnover 2004