STRESS AWARENESS ‘TAKING ACTION’- TUC WEBINAR
The TUC will soon be launching a brand-new resource to support trade union representatives in reviewing the risk of work-related stress and developing an organising response. An important up and coming TUC webinar on this topic is detailed below.
Tuesday 25th November 2025 – 14:00 to 15:00
Unionreps Webinar: Workplace Stress – Understanding the Risks, Taking Action | TUC
This webinar will look at:
- The causes of workplace stress and how it affects our health and wellbeing
- What action employers should be taking to prevent and manage stress at work
- How reps can identify risks, support members and campaign for safer, healthier workplaces
This webinar will coincide with the launch of a brand-new TUC guide to using HSE’s Stress Indicator Tool as a tool for organising for stress risk assessments.
HSE’s Management Standards Indicator Tool is a 35-item questionnaire relating to the six primary stressors identified in the Management Standards for Work Related Stress.
The questions are based on the best available evidence linking work design to health outcomes. It has been designed to support the process described in the HSE Management Standards by providing a broad indication to organisations of how well their workforce rates their employer’s performance in managing the risks associated with work-related stress.
The CWU will be supporting the TUC in encouraging safety reps to carry out Stress Inspections. We will be providing further guidance for doing so. Included as an attachment to this LTB is HSE guidance INDG 30.
INDG publications are also known as Industry Guidance Documents and are provided by the HSE to give specific safety guidance on various risk issues and areas of work.
It’s the law to assess stress risks
Employers must assess the risks of work-related stress and take action to prevent harm, under:
- The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974
- The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
Employers have a legal duty to protect employees from stress at work by undertaking stress risk assessments and acting on the findings. The CWU has national agreements with all the major employers on both individual and group stress risk assessments.
Why it matters
Work-related stress remains one of the leading causes of ill health at work. In 2023/24, 776,000 workers reported suffering from work-related stress, depression or anxiety. This made up nearly half of all self-reported work-related ill health, contributing to 16.4 million working days lost.
Failing to manage stress effectively can also result in reduced productivity and higher staff turnover.
Members suffering the effects of stress are encouraged to approach their Union Rep, Safety Rep, Mental Health First Aider or seek help, support and assistance without delay should they need help at work or feel in need of crisis support.
When undertaken correctly, Stress Risk Assessments can be an extremely effective tool to reduce personal stress on an individual or workplace level.
This LTB is shared on behalf of CWU Central Services.
If you have any questions or need any further information, please contact-
Jamie McGovern FRSPH MIIAI
CWU Health & Safety Policy Assistant at jmcgovern@cwu.org
CWU Eastern No5 Branch 
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