How to deal with stress among employees We collaborate with PsykiatriFonden This booklet has been produced in collaboration with PyskiatriFonden and is directed to you as manager. In the booklet you will find facts about stress and ideas as to what you can do if one of your employees suf- fers from stress. PsykiatriFonden is a private, humanitarian organization (NGO), which purposively works to make it more acceptable to be mentally ill in Denmark. PsykiatriFonden is behind several activities, all with the purpose of prevention and information about mental illnesses.
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How to deal with stress among employees
We collaborate with PsykiatriFondenThis booklet has been produced in collaboration with PyskiatriFonden and is directed to you as manager. In the booklet you will find facts about stress and ideas as to what you can do if one of your employees suf-fers from stress. PsykiatriFonden is a private, humanitarian organization (NGO), which purposively works to make it more acceptable to be mentally ill in Denmark. PsykiatriFonden is behind several activities, all with the purpose of prevention and information about mental illnesses.
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There may be many reasons why an employee is not happy or doing well. If it has something to do with stress, it is important that you, as manager, identify this and step in as fast as possible. Stress over a long period of time can result in serious health consequences, for example depression. The longer it takes for someone to intervene, the more serious it can become.
Do you know the symptoms?Symptoms of stress and depression are not always easy to identify and, unfortunately, the symptoms are often overlooked. As manager, you need to pay attention over a period of time (since often the symptoms do not occur on a daily basis).
In particular, you should be aware, if an employee exhibits any of the following symptoms:• continuousphysicalsymptoms• difficultyconcentrating• forgetfulness• easilyannoyed• failstomeetdeadlines• lacksabroadviewofthings• ismorequietthanusual• avoidsbreaksandsocialevents• changeablebehaviour.
When an employee suf fers from stress
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Fast treatment is importantThe faster you react – the faster your employee can recover. The right kind of treatment is very important as well as helping the employee understand what has caused the stress. It could be the working conditions or it could be private relations. But it can also be a combination of both.
Intervene – and show considerationStress is a condition that may lead to depression or other illnesses, if nothing is done. When a person suf-fers from stress, the body begins to produce stress hormones. If this goes on for a long period of time, it affects the function of the brain.
Treatment is not the work place’s responsibility. But it is your responsibility to take care of an employee, who is not doing well, and to show the necessary conside-rations, such as helping to prioritize and organize the tasks and the work differently, so the employee can continue the work, despite his/her symptoms.
What you can do• Talktotheemployeeaboutthesymptomsyou
have noticed• Listentohowtheemployeeexperiencesthe
about stress• Recommendtheemployeeseekstreatment,if
necessary.
How can Danica Pension assist?If an employee is suffering from stress and is treated by e.g. a psychologist, the treatment is often covered byDanicaHealthInsurance.
Remember …It is important to make appointments and to follow-up on conversations. This way, the employee feels that he/she is being taken care of. You should also talk to his/her colleagues about showing consideration for the employee in question.
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Stay in contact and show interestStress and depression can lead to sick leave for a short or long period of time. In such case, it is important that you, as manager, show consideration and respect for the employee. The most respectful and helpful thing you can do, is to stay in contact with the employee and show interest. Many people on sick leave are saddened that they hear nothing from their workplace. It only re-inforces the anxiety for the future and can diminish the employee’s trust in him/herself.
This is what you should do• Stayincontact–bothbyphoneandbyinvitingthe
of the illness• Advisewhattheworkplacecanoffer• Havethestatutory4-weeks-conversation–at
this meeting you can suggest to make a so-called “mulighedserklæring” describing tasks, the employee can undertake
• Refertocounsellingwiththeemployee’sowndoctor, psychologist, the municipality or the social workers in Danica Pension.
How can Danica Pension assist?You and your employee are welcome to contact our so-cial workers for counselling. Furthermore, the emplo-yee has the possibility of receiving a benefit payment from the disability cover. In this case, the money will be payable to the workplace, as long as the employee is still employed and is receiving the same salary as usual.
When an employee is reported sickRemember …It is important that the offer of support is genuine. Many offers depend on finances and it is an advantage, if you have checked the possibilities of f inancial compensation to the workplace and/or to the employee beforehand.
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Help the employee through a dif ficult timeIt may be difficult to return to work after a period of stress or depression. Often, going to work will reacti-vate the feeling of stress – even if the employee only has to work a few hours to begin with. This feeling can be quite frightening, but usually it is a passing reac-tion. As manager you can do many things to help your employee through the difficult period and this way, the employee can return to work as soon as possible.
This is what you should do• Engageinregularconversationswiththeemployee• Talkaboutyourexpectations• Makeanagreementaboutworkinghoursand
support and treatment, if necessary• Makesuretospecifyandprioritizethetasks• Giveclearandconcretefeedback• Discusswhatthelimitationsmeantotherestof
the department.
How can Danica Pension assist?Our social workers can advise as regards aid from the State. If the employee needs to see a psychologist or be treated by another specialist, it may be covered by DanicaHealthInsurance.
When an employee returns to work on a part time basisRemember …It is important that you inform the colleagues in the department about the employee’s situation - (naturally, subject to the agreement of the employee in question). The Jobcentre in the municipality can help you prepare a course, which can make the employee’s return as easy as possible.
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Support and follow-upYour employee may be mentally affected after a period of stress or depression. Often, the employee feels unsure of his/her own judgement, due to the fact that he/she has not been able to look after him/herself. This uncertainty will be even greater, if the employee’s surroundings also failed to react, when it was most needed.
It is important that you support your employee when well again – especially in the beginning – and that you continue the follow-up on his/her progress.
This is what you should do• Askhowhe/sheisdoing• Talkaboutpreventionofthesamehappeningagain• Follow-uponthetasksandtheguidelines• Givecontinuousfeedback• Advisetheemployeewherehe/shecanobtain
support, if needed.
How can Danica Pension assist?You are welcome to contact your daily contact person if you need help regarding stress policy or other preventive initiatives.
When an employee is well again
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Stress and depressionIn the booklet “Are you absent due to stress?”, we have, together with PsykiatriFonden, collected advice for employees, who suffer from stress or depression. You can find the booklet on danicapension.dk/brochu-res. You can also find more information on psykiatri-fonden.dk.
Call for adviseAs manager, you can call advisers of PsykiatriFonden’s Erhvervsrådgivning.Youcanalsocallthecompany’sCorporate Care, if you have a specific problem relating to stress or depression.
PsykiatriFonden’sErhvervsrådgivning:20346897,Monday - Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Corporate Care: 21 46 30 29, Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
4-weeks-conversation and “mulighedserklæring”The National Labour Market Authority has produced aguideaboutsickleave“Nårenmedarbejdermeldersig syg – nye muligheder og pligter” (only in danish). In this guide you can read more about rules in force as of 1 January 2010. Should you need a “mulighedserklæ-ring”, you can find it on ams.dk.
Public benefitsCall our social workers on 45 13 17 17.
Notice of illnessOn danicapension.dk you can find information and report illness.
Grant to treatment by a psychologistCallourHealthGroupon70250203–andfindoutwhatiscoveredbyDanicaHealthInsurance.
Do you want to know more?Did you know that …Stress is an increasing public health problem according to the State’s Institute for public health. The costs are high – both the human and the f inancial costs. With a stress policy you can determine how you wish to prevent stress and what should be done, if an employee suffers from stress. This way, you can bring down the total sick absence.
PreventionAre you interested in “Danica Sundhedsfremmer?”. Check danicapension.dk – or contact your adviser in Danica Pension.
DAN90433 . 2011.03
Danica PensionParallelvej 172800 Kgs. Lyngby
Telefon 70 11 25 25Fax 45 14 96 16www.danicapension.dk
Forsikr ingsselskabet Danica, Skadeforsikr ingsakt ieselskab af 1999, CVR-nr. 25 02 06 34, København DK
