EMPLOYERS across the South East are being urged to give their views on new proposals to reduce work-related stress.

It is now the biggest cause of working days lost through injury or ill health and the Health and Safety Commission have launched a consultation to involve employers in identifying and tackling problems.

New proposals will enable employers to gauge stress levels, identify causes and work with employees to resolve any difficulties.

The Management Standards are not new regulations: they are a non-legislative yardstick to help organisations meet their existing duty of care and their duty to assess the risks of work-related stress. They highlight the components of good organisation, job design and management that keep stress levels in check and enhance productivity.

Work-related stress has overtaken musculoskeletal disorders as the biggest cause of working days lost through injury or ill health. It accounts for over 13 million days lost in UK industry each year, and costs society about £3.7bn annually.

Bill Callaghan, chair of the HSC, said: "The HSC has recognised the need for action and designated stress as one of our priorities. We're not about eliminating all stress or pressure in the workplace. Rather we want to help employers recognise and manage the risks sensibly.

"The good news is that the core of any solution lies in good management, and in employers working together with staff and their representatives to develop solutions that work in practice."

Elizabeth Gyngell, head of HSC's Better Working Environment Division, said: "Work-related stress is not the reasonable pressure which is part and parcel of all work and which helps to keep us motivated. It is the kind of excessive pressure that undermines performance, is costly to employers and can make people ill.

"We are working hard to help tackle the issue through good job design and people management. HSE cannot do this alone. We need employers, employees, and their representatives to visit our website and participate in this consultation."