Charity tackles issue of workplace stress

A BIRMINGHAM charity wants to help city businesses become more productive by addressing officerelated stress issues that account for 43 per cent of working days lost through ill health.

ChaplaincyPlus, based at One Colmore Row, offers free, one-to-one, confidential support to city centre professionals struggling to cope with day-to-day work pressures.

Steve Bavington, chaplain to Birmingham’s business district who runs ChaplaincyPlus, says the most recent figures published by the Health & Safety Executive regarding work-related stress, anxiety and depression are alarming.

The Labour Force Survey estimated that 9.9 million days were lost nationally in the 12-month period moni- tored. Workload pressures, including tight deadlines, too much responsibility and a lack of managerial support, were cited as the main causes.

Mr Bavington said ChaplaincyPlus, which has been running for 13 years, was set up to alleviate such issues and is urging more Birmingham business people to make use of its service – regardless of faith.

He said talking about work-related stress can help professionals through crises and have a positive effect at their workplace and the business community in general.

“Stress accounting for 43 per cent of all working days lost through ill health is a phenomenal figure – it’s alarming,” said Mr Bavington who has 12 years’ experience of media sales.