The TUC used its Workers' Memorial Day on 28 April to publicise a new guide to occupational health for trade union safety representatives (on the TUC website) and highlight ways in which employers can improve the health of their workforce. Meanwhile, Acas has just issued new guidance on health, work and wellbeing (on the Acas website) and given advice on mental health in the workplace to coincide with Depression Awareness Week, which ran from 21 to 26 April.

Our model employee wellbeing policy [subscription required] gives examples of how employers can actively promote a healthy workplace. It sets out:

- the responsibilities of managers and others for maintaining psychological health;

- examples of health promotion initiatives;

- communication and training on health issues;

- the range of support available for the maintenance of mental health; and

- organisational commitment to handling individual issues.

This policy is complemented by our policy setting out an employee assistance programme [subscription required], which shows how employers can communicate an EAP to employees.