While our jobs can promote good mental and emotional wellbeing, long hours, sustained pressure, poor management and difficult working relationships mean that mental health problems are common. One in four of us will experience mental distress at some point of our lives. We're all vulnerable. And it certainly doesn't mean we are weak or less 'employable' than any of our fellow colleagues.
Time to Challenge, part of the Time to Change campaign to combat mental health discrimination, will raise awareness amongst employers, employees and job seekers. Time to Challenge will fight for everyone in work and looking for work to be treated fairly by taking on legal test cases.
Time to Challenge has launched a new resource on the Time to Change website, which is packed with information including guidance and tips for line managers and HR professionals, information for employees on topics such as managing stress and when and how to disclose mental health problems, and advice for those applying for jobs.
Sofia, a call centre worker, says:
The best thing my manager did for me was treat me like a 'normal' person. In fact, even treating me like a brave person for coming to terms with my depression, acknowledging it and making her aware. She understands how difficult that was for me.
My manager went above and beyond their legal responsibilities. She treated me like a person, not just ticking boxes, not just from a business aspect but from a human aspect as well.
According to UK law, everyone with a disability (defined as someone with a mental or physical impairment that has lasted – or will last – at least 12 months) has a right to have reasonable adjustments made by their employer so they can do their job. Yet despite this legislation, having a mental health problem is still taboo in the workplace. So when we start to experience a mental health problem, we tend to hide it away in shame and try to battle on – even though we need support to get back on track and achieve our goals.
This situation is not good for anyone. It is damaging to the health of workers, and has a huge cost to employers who can lose valuable employees that could otherwise be supported to stay in work. Good management of employees' physical and mental health can have great benefits, including greater staff engagement and reduced sickness absence and staff turnover. Time to Challenge's website has a range of short films how line managers and employees have been able to work together thanks to a little flexibility and open-mindedness.
If things don't go according to plan, the Time to Challenge web resource provides plenty of information and case studies to show how the law offers protection against discrimination on the grounds of a mental health problem.
Mind's Legal Unit can offer support to those who feel they have been discriminated against due to a mental health problem either at work or when looking for work. Visit the Time to Change website or get in touch to find out if we can help with your case: legalunit@mind.org.uk