Where a member of staff believes they may be suffering from work related stress they must bring this to the attention of the University at an early stage, to ensure that concerns are addressed in a timely manner.  Reports of work related stress can be made though one of the following routes:

• Line Manager:  individuals suffering from stress are encouraged to talk first with their line manager, since they are most likely to have the best understanding of the demands of their role and the possibilities of change.  For this reason, it is important that all managers provide the opportunity fortheir staff to freely express concerns and to discuss problems in an open and supportive manner. In situations where it is not appropriate to report the stress to their line manager, the employee should consider other options as outlined below.
• Notifying Biology HR Manager or Adviser, or Biology Health and Safety Adviser if the individual does not want to talk to their manager in the first instance. Staff should be aware, however, that line managers will need to be involved at some point if action is to be taken to address the problem.
• Contact a central University Human Resources Manager/Advisor if a member of staff would prefer to talk to someone outside the Department of Biology

Line Managers may become aware of an individual’s work-related stress by various routes.  Where they identify possible stress through personal observation or through concerned colleagues, for example, they should raise the matter with their staff member with sensitivity (see Responding to reported work related stress).