Organizations that are committed to sustainability are increasingly aligning their corporate strategies to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). And implementing a framework to manage psychosocial risk demonstrates commitment to ensuring decent work conditions, health and well-being.
The novel coronavirus pandemic and other recent events around the world have heightened many people’s fears and worries. In addition to this, it’s a fact that hundreds of millions of people globally live with a mental health condition.
Psychological health and well-being have long been major issues in the workplace, with stress, burnout, anxiety and depression costing economies billions and resulting in high levels of long-term sickness absence and consequent disruption.
Supporting organizations to navigate, plan and manage mental health in the workplace, a new global standard is now at final draft stage. ISO 45003, Occupational health and safety management — Psychological health and safety at work: managing psychosocial risks — Guidelines, is the first global standard giving practical guidance on managing psychological health at work.
Implementation of ISO 45003 and its alignment to the SDGs sends a powerful message to shareholders and stakeholders - including employees - that they truly care for their people.
What’s the benefit of using a framework?
Supporting mental health within your organization can help to improve organizational resilience and enhance performance and productivity. It can help improve recruitment, retention and diversity; enhance worker engagement; increase innovation and reduce absence arising from mental health issues.
ISO 45003 complements the existing standard for health and safety - ISO 45001 – but is just as relevant for organizations that haven’t yet implemented an occupational health and safety management system.
Whilst we are now returning to work, we aren’t necessarily returning to how things used to be. Employers face the task of defining their ‘next normal’ and adapting health, safety and wellbeing strategies to reflect the potential of an ever-changing landscape.
You can find out more by accessing our free resources. Kate Field, BSI’s Global Head of Health, Safety and Wellbeing, has presented three webinars designed to support you in the journey to the ‘next normal’:
Managing health and safety - the here and now
Supporting your people - rebuilding your business
Establishing the ‘next normal’ – planning for a resilient future
How can you learn more?
ISO 45003 is currently at the ‘draft’ stage (Draft International Standard (DIS)), which means that it is 95% technically accurate, so the core content will not change. This means that organizations can start using the standard now to help protect and support workers from mental ill-health arising within the workplace. It is expected that DIS/ISO 45003 will be published as a full International Standard in Summer 2021.
To support your understanding and to explain how your organization can benefit from this framework, BSI has developed a one-day training course. It includes information on how to recognize the psychosocial hazards that can affect workers. It offers examples of effective – often simple - actions that can be taken to manage these.