Measuring Stress

Roger Mead Associates provide a range of employee audit services to measure the well being of the workforce.  These audits are sometimes called stress audits but are also known as attitude surveys, work-life balance questionnaires or motivation inventories. The information provided by these audits enable the employer to identify those areas of the business where the employees may face an increased risk of stress. Cost effective and targeted stress management interventions can then be implemented.

The format of an audit will change according to the size of the organisation and the availability of data from existing Human Resource records. In small companies it might be sufficient to examine sickness records, staff turnover, and to conduct focus groups. In larger organisations we would frequently recommend an integrated approach which would include a questionnaire, a review of existing HR records coupled with focus groups.

We are able to provide both pressure and health screening for employees providing individual advice to them on steps that they can take to improve their overall well being. Simultaneously information can be provided to the organisation about the risks to their employees so that occupational health interventions can be cost effectively targeted.

The Risk Assessment Approach
Audits carried out by Roger Mead Associates conform to the advice given by the Health & Safety Executive for Risk Assessments of stress and therefore enable the employer to comply with their advice. 
The process is as follows:

• Looking for pressures at work, which could cause high levels and long lasting levels of stress.
  
• Deciding who might be harmed by these;
  
• Deciding whether you are doing enough to prevent that harm.
  
• If necessary you must then take reasonable steps to deal with those pressures.
  
• It is then necessary to review the efficacy of the steps that have been taken.