NSGEU President Joan Jessome marking the first year anniversary of the National Standard for Psychological Health & Safety in the Workplace and participates in Case Study Project with MHCC

President Joan Jessome, Director of Negotiations and Servicing Robin MacLean, Health & Safety Officer Paul Cormier, and Bully Free Workplaces Coordinator Susan Coldwell are in Toronto to mark the first year anniversary of the National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace and to participate in a Case Study Project organized by the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC).

Along with other respected businesses, labour leaders, and employers, the NSGEU has been selected to work with the MHCC to implement the National Standard within the workplace.

“We are honoured to be the only labour union selected to participate as an employer in the Project and we see a significant benefit to our staff and members,” says Joan Jessome. “We look forward to be a leading employer in psychological workplace standards and working with employers to also implement the standards in the workplaces of our members.”

By participating in the Case Study Project, the NSGEU will:

a.      work to adopt the new voluntary National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace (Standard) within the NSGEU, either fully or partially by the end of the three year Project period;

b.      nominate a champion within the NSGEU and provide dedicated resources to assist him/her to carry out the implementation of the Standard;

c.       share our findings, issues, processes, survey results, etc., with the research team and MHCC;

d.      work with the research team and the MHCC to determine contact and reporting frequency (may be tied to normal reporting within the organization);

e.      share results and feedback from the research team with all workplace stakeholders; and

f.       establish milestones, at the planning phase, related to implementing the Standard and share planning documents (high level) with the research team and the MHCC;

The MHCC reports that they have “received an overwhelming response to the Standard, with Canadian businesses eager to sign on.” Louise Bradley, MHCC President and CEO says, “with roughly half a million Canadians missing work each week due to mental illness, Canadian employers know it’s time to invest in a psychologically safe workplace. This new research project is a chance to drive momentum for workplace mental health across Canada.”

For the press release, please visit:

http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/article/20071/january-16-2014-mhcc-canadian-employers-launch-research-project-workplace-mental-healt