Stressed out: Who is looking after HR?

HR is responsible for implementing wellbeing policies but what happens when they get stressed? Alan King provides advice on how HR professionals can deal with stress at work.

In 2006, an HR professional at Intel, the world's largest computer chip maker, was awarded more than £114,000 after she became so stressed at work she had a nervous breakdown. This is clearly an extreme case of workplace stress that went unmanaged and unchecked, but this woman is certainly not alone.

There are hugely differing levels of work-related stress and research shows that stress levels have increased in recent years. Most organisations now recognise the business benefits that are associated with a healthy workforce and are prepared to invest in the wellbeing of their employees.

In practice this means HR creates a range of policies, training and tools to improve employee wellbeing. But what about HR professionals? Are they being forgotten?