- Conference
- 2018 National Black Members' Conference
- Date
- 12 September 2017
- Decision
- Carried as Amended
Conference, employers are failing in their duty of care towards staff with mental health issues. Black Staff with mental health issues are not malingers, faking it or simply seeking attention.
They have a genuine illness which can be difficult to identify, treat and manage and managers and staff should show greater tolerance and patience toward staff with mental health issues.
UNISON should continue to work to promote greater awareness of mental health issues amongst employers and management through the various activities and research health packs available to activist.
One of the major factors in mental health issues is that the same issue, such as depression, anxiety or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), can and will impact individuals differently, and as such cannot be painted with a broad brush policy and must be dealt with on an individual basis.
A significant number of mental health issues can result in physical issues such as a depressed immune system which leave people susceptible to illness, fatigue, headaches and other difficulties.
These physical symptoms and illnesses should be treated as part of the mental health issue, not as a separate unrelated issue that would attract formal warnings if taken in isolation.
Managers should be required to seek the advice of HR Support, Occupational Health, taking into account reasonable adjustment, and any other suitable resources, and must be able to demonstrate that every consideration of potential reasonable adjustments and support have been undertaken prior to any formal action being carried out.
The improvement of the Occupational Health referral system is essential, as the use of scripted questions can be counterproductive and doesn’t allow for the individual nature of an illness to be discussed and taken into account.
Conference therefore calls upon the National Black Members’ Committee to:
1)Encourage and continue to promote awareness of mental health issues for Black workers in the workplace;
2)Examine and discuss how training can be provided to activist to ensure that through the campaigning and bargaining agenda with employers, all managers and staff attend at least basic levels of training on mental health issues, in order to provide them with the adequate knowledge to deal with mental health situations;
3)Ensure that literature is developed and provided to Black members;
4)Continue to promote awareness amongst activists of the importance to ensure employers are aware of the necessity to train managers in mental health and how to support and engage Black workers;
5)Promote tolerance of Black mental health issues in the workplace amongst employees and the wider community;
6)Encourage the use of robust Stress Risk Assessments in order to eliminate potential stressors.