4. Other possible stress reducing accommodations include:

*altering the pace of work;

*lowering the noise level at work;

*providing water, tea, or soda and crushed ice to combat a dry mouth caused by some medications;

*extra encouragement and praise of job performance, but only if warranted and not obviously excessive;

*while taking steps to reduce stress, avoid babying the employee. Over protection or excessive concern may harm a person's mental adjustment even more than lack of caring or concern;

*be sure the employee is treated as a member of the team and not excluded from social events, business meetings, or other activities relevant to the employee's job position. (Adapted from Frierson, 1995)

The changing employer role

 

Today, it is clearly recognized that employers benefit from an employee base that is healthy. Traditionally, employers have provided health care benefits, but as the financing of health care services continues to change in the U.S. and costs continue to explode more attention is being focussed on employers as active purchasers of care.

The Washington Business Group on Health has identified the following questions pertinent to the role of employers in the mental health area:²²

* What are the effects of company policies and procedures on the mental health of employees?

* What is the appropriate employer role in support of chronic, long-term catastrophic care for employees and their families?

* What is the appropriate employer role in supporting employees through unavoidable life crises (such as a death of a spouse or child), which impact job performance and may, in fact, represent the appropriate intervention point to prevent a disabling illness?

* When is the insurance model the most appropriate vehicle for employer sponsored mental health care? What are other alternatives?

Specific to their role as health care purchasers, employers are asking:

* What is the cost-benefit of a specific service?

* What are the effects of the restriction or elimination of mental health benefits?

* Is early intervention for depression and other mental disorders cost-effective?

* How should results of the latest research on depression and other mental disorders be incorporated into company policy?

To address these questions effectively, there must be a collaboration between the public and private sectors. The key role of the government and social partners, such as government agencies, non-government agencies, and unions in working with employers to implement and evaluate policy and legislation has been addressed earlier in this paper.