Canadian HR Reporter

2 News February 10, 2014 Canadian HR Reporter 2 new tools introduced for mentally healthy workplaces Case study research project, university-certified training to provide employers with more solutions around management's role By Sarah Dobson Introduced one year ago, the National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace has made quite an impact, both within and beyond Canada's borders. The document has been downloaded 16,000 times, according to the CSA Group, which developed the standard along with the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) and the Bureau de normalisation du Québec (BNQ). But the quest for mentally healthy workplaces won't end there — employers interested in improving the lot of employees now have a couple more options available. Case study approach For one, the MHCC is partnering with more than 25 Canadian employers on a three-year research project aimed at driving uptake of the standard. The case study project will track workplaces' experiences as they adopt the standard, creating a solid knowledge base to help inform national expansion of the standard. While the psychological standard will help address issues such as absenteeism and disability claims, it's about providing proof, said Louise Bradley, president and CEO of MHCC in Ottawa. "We really want to show hard core evidence that that is what employers can expect," she said. research project will help provide answers around the return on investment, said Bradley. "That's one of the things that we will be looking at but… we can't afford to not do this," she said. "To not address this issue is going to cost more than if we do." The research project will pro- "There are some pretty interesting and creative things happening throughout the country and this will help identify good and leading practices that can be shared." "Also, out of that, there are some pretty interesting and creative things that are happening throughout the country and this will help identify good and leading practices, so that can be shared with other businesses and organizations. So that's why it's important to take three solid years of being very methodical and rigorous in looking at that type of information." As with any workplace initiative, costs are a concern and the vide answers, said Mary Deacon, Toronto-based chair of the Bell "Let's Talk" initiative designed to break the silence around mental illness and support mental health. "There will be some very good information about what is working in terms of implementation, what are the challenges, what are the costs and what are the benefits, both in terms of reduced costs but also in terms of productivity, satisfaction, employee recruit- ment and retention — all of those things," she said. "We know that pretty much across the board mental healthrelated issues account for 30 per cent of short-term disability claims, the single largest category… and there is a general belief that addressing workplace mental health practices — like implementing the standard, doing the training, policies, practices, etcetera — there's a belief that it will translate into better employee satisfaction, better employee health and well-being, and ultimately reductions in short-term disability costs, relapse rates, costs associated with relapse rates, reoccurrence rates. But there really has been no — because there has been no standard and there has been no framework — there is really only anecdotal information." New training program Bell Canada is among the employers participating in the MHCC research project over the next three years. Bell has already TRAINING > pg. 16 HIRE A PRO. CPAs are Canada's most knowledgeable, skilled and respected accounting and business professionals. And this is where to find them. CPASource.com On the web Recent stories posted on www.hrreporter.com. Check the website daily for quick news hits from across Canada and around the world. Third round of talks underway to convince provinces to accept Canada Jobs Grant Original proposal 'less than perfect': Kenney Former PM Paul Martin to advise Ontario on new pension plan Touts increased payroll deductions as part of solution More adults returning to university in Ontario: Council of Ontario Universities Number of non-high school applicants up 10.5 per cent hrreporter.com Featured Video GoodLife executive talks about TV experience Jane Riddell, COO of GoodLife Fitness, explains to Canadian HR Reporter TV how her experience on Undercover Boss Canada reshaped the way decisions are made at the fitness company

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