A positive working environment has tangible benefits both for companies and workers, according to a campaign to be launched today to mark the start of European Week for Safety and Health at Work.

Run by the Health and Safety Authority here, the campaign will focus on the advantages of a positive working environment, which include increased productivity, lower rates of absenteeism due to ill-health and reduced staff turnover.

The HSA is encouraging managers to take practical steps that make workers feel “valued, willing and able to fully contribute to organisational success”.

Psychosocial hazards

Speaking about this year’s campaign, HSA chief executive Martin O’Halloran said: “In

Ireland

and across

Europe

, psychosocial hazards such as stress are considered to be the most challenging of all workplace hazards to address.

“Unfortunately, there is still a stigma associated with mental health issues but employers need to be aware of the signals and take a proactive approach, just as they would for any other workplace safety and health hazard.”

Separately, research carried out by the National Anti-Bullying Research and Resource Centre in Dublin City University has found bullying is the cause of one in 10 dismissals in Ireland.

The research looked at 99 cases taken to the Employment Appeals Tribunal between June 2013 and September 2015.