Employers ‘may not know’ of vulnerability
AUCKLAND: Employers should be flexible and supportive of people with mental health issues but many will not know an employee is vulnerable, an expert says.
The comments come as many people struggle to come to grips with the sudden death of TVNZ late news presenter Greg Boyed while on holiday in Europe.
Boyed’s family said the 48yearold had been battling depression.
It follows a post on LinkedIn yesterday by former broadcaster Rawdon Christie saying managers had a duty to care for staff.
However, Dundas Street Employment Lawyers partner Blair Scotland said it was not the responsibility of employers to provide de facto mental health services for staff.
Many employers could be unaware their staff were suffering mental health problems.
‘‘There isn’t a broad duty of care and I’m not sure what that would mean or how far it would go.
‘‘There’s that issue of not knowing that the issue is there. Once you do know about it, what do you do with that information?’’
Once an employer became aware of a situation, the right thing to do would be to try to understand what it meant in the context of the workplace, Mr Scotland said.
‘‘What can be done to support that person? What could be reasonably accommodated in terms of aspects of the work or workplace that may exacerbate that medical condition?’’
Employers should be flexible with time off to help the employee recover but he drew the line at
making mental health their responsibility.
‘‘We see a lot of instances where . . . there isn’t a [mental health] diagnosis.
‘‘In some instances, the person themselves doesn’t know they’re suffering from a condition.’’
Mental health advocate Mike King earlier said there was no way to know if someone was suffering depression unless they told you.
‘‘There are no signs. I have been to dozens of funerals where people have died by their own hands and the stories are the same, the story of Greg is the same. He was a funny guy. He was always there for other people, the most caring person in the world.
‘‘Where is that in the information sheets? Where does it say to look out for the happy guy who always cares for other people, the guy with the quick wit, with the helping hand?
‘‘It’s not in any of the ‘thingstolookoutfor’ sheets, so all they’re doing is having us looking in the wrong directions.
‘‘There is one sign and one sign only that people are struggling and that is if they tell you.’’
Mental Health Foundation chief executive Shaun Robinson said depression was a very significant issue.
‘‘It’s set to overtake heart disease as the major epidemic in the Western world by next year, according to the World Health Organisation.’’
Meanwhile, a former journalist said latenight news presenting could take a toll.
❛ I have been to dozens of funerals where people have died by their own hands and the stories are the same, the story of Greg is the same. He was a funny guy. He was always there for other people, the most
caring person in the world
‘‘It is a very lonely job because the fact is, if you love being part of the newsroom, everyone’s gone and you’re on your own with a very small team . . . not much happens at that time and you tend to be out of the loop.’’
The source said journalism had become an increasingly difficult job.
‘‘It’s a great job but you need to be tough now to do that job . . . newsrooms are tougher and more is expected of everyone.
‘‘But that’s the modern workplace, too. Everywhere is tough.’’
TVNZ spokeswoman Georgie Hills would not comment on questions about Boyed’s role out of respect for his family.
However she confirmed a karakia had taken place in the TVNZ newsroom yesterday in his honour. — NZME