Managing stress in the workplace

Vita Health Group, our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), offers a Day 1 Intervention for Stress service. This proactive intervention is designed to support employees who have presented stress as a contributing factor for taking time off work.

This service addresses the employee’s individual situation and needs at the earliest possible opportunity. Vita focuses on breaking down the barriers preventing a return to work and helps fulfil our duty of care.

This service is not a substitute for managers' responsibilities, maintaining contact, and their duty of care. It offers an additional layer of help to employees get the best support.

This type of early support has been proven to return nearly 95% of people absent from work due to stress in less than 14 days, as opposed to the average of 25.8 days.

How the service works

1. On the first day they are not at work, the manager will ask the employee if it's okay to refer them to the stress service and for the service to contact them. It's important to write down the employee's preferred contact information and whether they agree to the service leaving them a voicemail if necessary.
2. The manager contacts Vita’s freephone number 0800 1116 387 to confirm the employee has given consent to be contacted.
3. The manager talks about the employee's absence with a Management Support Counsellor who gives advice and coaching.
4. A support worker will get in touch with the employee within one working day. Vita will try to contact the employee three times at different times of the day. If given permission, they will leave one message.
5. Help is offered by talking about choices, treatments, worries, and obstacles. A plan will be put in place that may involve steps for returning to work. This plan will also include talking to the line manager, people support team, Occupational Health, or GP. If the employee doesn't want help, the case will be closed and the referring manager will be told.
6. The referring manager will receive a summary within two working days of what support is being put in place. This will detail progress and next step recommendations. If contact has not been possible, it will give an interim update.
7. The service will make contact with the manager again after one month to check progress.

Contact information

To make a referral or get more information on the Day 1 Intervention for Stress service:

• Telephone: 0800 1116 387
• Email: enquiries@vhg.co.uk

For general management advice or or guidance on a matter affecting your team, contact Vita’s confidential coaches on 0800 111 6385.