With the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) stepping up enforcement and Stress Awareness Month approaching, UK employers are being urged to take urgent action on workplace stress – or risk legal and human consequences.
The warning comes after the HSE found the University of Birmingham in breach of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 in December 2025, citing a failure to effectively manage work-related stress. A Notice of Contravention was issued, signalling a clear shift towards stricter enforcement.
Employers falling short on stress risk management
Despite a legal duty of care, many organisations are still not taking adequate steps to assess and mitigate stress.
Research from Mates in Mind highlights significant gaps:
- Nearly 70% of employees say line managers lack confidence in conducting stress risk assessments
- 46% of organisations do not have a mental health policy
- 61% have not provided mental health awareness training in the past two years
While 78% of organisations record stress-related absence, far fewer are taking proactive steps to prevent it.
The human cost of inaction
Beyond compliance, the consequences of unmanaged stress can be devastating.
Mates in Mind shared the story of Chris, a construction worker who experienced a severe mental health crisis linked to work-related stress and died by suicide. His family’s message is clear: “Stress can kill. It does kill.”
This underlines the urgency for employers to move beyond policy and into meaningful action.
Why investing in mental health makes business sense
Improving workplace mental health is not just a legal requirement – it also delivers measurable business benefits.
Effective stress management can:
- Increase productivity
- Reduce absenteeism and presenteeism
- Lower staff turnover and recruitment costs
- Strengthen employer brand and employee trust
In short, supporting mental wellbeing is both a moral and commercial imperative.
Five questions every employer should be asking
To meet their responsibilities, organisations should start by assessing their current approach. Key questions include:
- Do we have a mental health policy?
- Are we conducting individual stress risk assessments?
- What actions do we take based on those assessments?
- Are we mitigating risks and making reasonable adjustments?
- Are assessments reviewed regularly and properly documented?
Five practical steps to improve workplace stress management
Based on its work with organisations in high-risk sectors, Mates in Mind recommends five key actions:
1. Secure leadership buy-in
Senior leaders must lead by example and create a culture where mental health is openly discussed.
2. Assess and plan
Evaluate current provision and develop a clear, tailored action plan to address gaps.
3. Set targets and measure impact
Define success, track progress and keep evidence of actions taken.
4. Educate the workforce
Equip employees and managers with the skills to recognise and respond to mental health issues.
5. Provide accessible support
Ensure employees can access support through channels such as Employee Assistance Programmes, Occupational Health or trained mental health first aiders.
A clear call to action for employers
As regulatory scrutiny increases, organisations must ask themselves a critical question: are they truly meeting their duty of care?
For those that cannot confidently answer “yes”, the message is clear – now is the time to act.
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You can find out more about Stress Awareness Month (and watch a series of short videos about stress management and download free resources) here: https://www.matesinmind.org/training-and-resources/stress-awareness-month-april-2026
