How many work days were lost due to staff being signed off with a mental health-related condition, including stress, across the National Assembly for Wales Commission in a) 2015-16 and b) 2016-17?
- 2015/16 – 1032 working days lost to mental ill-health
- 2016/17 - 1232 working days lost to mental ill-health
The total sickness levels for Commission employees, for the rolling 12 month periods ending on 31 March 2016 and 31 March 2017, reduced from 3. 72% to 3. 54% respectively.
The Assembly Commission invests in the health, safety and well being of all Commission employees, Assembly Members and their staff, contractors and all visitors to the Assembly estate and we ensure that the organisation complies with current legislation.
The Commission's HR Business Partners work closely with Heads of Service to manage absence levels. Particular attention is given to supporting those employees affected by mental health, including timely referral of employees to occupational health, support for line managers and, in more serious and acute cases, exercising our full duty of care by providing access to specialist mental health provision.
Since June 2016, our Wellbeing Strategy has concentrated on breaking down the stigma associated with mental ill-health. There has been an active programme of events over the past seven months, including our first Mental Health Awareness Week, held in October 2016. During this week the Commission signed up to the Time to Change Wales pledge to end mental health stigma in the workplace, we appointed a Management Board member to become the Commission's Mental Health Champion, we hosted 'Time to Change Talks', where employees were able to hear first-hand experiences, and followed all of this up with mental health awareness training.
Another notable achievement was Blue Monday in January 2017, when the Commission launched its Mental Health Policy, which was developed in close collaboration with the newly formed Mental Health Employee Network. The Network works closely with the Human Resources department and is focussed on reducing reporting stigma and encouraging employees to seek line manager and Assembly Commission support for their mental wellbeing.
The National Assembly for Wales, in partnership with Time to Change Wales, kicked of Mental Health Awareness Week on the 8 May 2017 with a breakfast event specifically designed to showcase employer best practice in supporting those who suffer with, or who are affected by, mental health issues in the workplace.
The increased days lost to mental ill-health, against a reducing rate of reported ill-health more generally during this period, suggests that this approach to reducing stigma is having a positive impact. This data is further supported by a positive narrative from the network members who feel more able to have open conversations in a way they have not previously.