Employers should focus on stress not employment law – Canada Life

Addressing employee stress is far more productive than agitating to sack unproductive workers, Canada Life has said.

Commenting on Adrian Beecroft's leaked report into the dismissal of unproductive workers, instigated by David Cameron, Paul Avis, sales and marketing director at Canada Life Group Insurance, said employers have a responsibility to understand why it is that certain members of staff are not performing at full potential.

He said: "The recommendations made in Adrian Beecroft's report on Employment Law make sense on one level - it is important that businesses run as efficiently as possible, and understandably employers expect their employees to work to the best of their abilities.

"As stated in the report, employees who ‘coast along' could act as more of a hindrance than a help to a business. However, are stress issues or personal problems that could be addressed affecting their performance?

"Recent research carried out by Canada Life Group Insurance found that almost 50% of employees are more stressed than last year, which will undoubtedly impact upon their performance.

"Employers should look to address these problems, not only as the 2010 Equality Act strengthened individuals' rights but also because it can be more cost-effective to retain experienced staff rather than go through the process of recruiting new ones.

"Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) offer information and support on a wide range of topics that focus on the end goal of helping the employee lead and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

"Employees who are under-performing may be doing so for a reason, and by making sure support systems are in place employers can help to address these issues and solve them before they become cause for dismissal," he added.