Supporting the mental health of your people has never been more important. Mental ill health issues are the number one reason for employees taking time off sick so it’s crucial that your mental health policies and procedures are fit for purpose and you know how to manage mental health issues in the workplace.
How we can help manage mental ill health in the workplace
Best practice with the day to day management of mental health issues
Creating or developing mental health policies
Dealing with Occupational Health and supporting medical evidence
Managing persistent short term absence
Managing long term absence due to mental health issues
Disability discrimination issues and reasonable adjustments
Managing the impact that poor mental health may have on performance
Reporting procedures and return to work interviews
Managing the work environment to reduce mental health issues
Training
We run regular HR courses at our offices and external venues over the year designed for HR professionals and those responsible for HR within their organisation. We also run webinars on these topics. Keep an eye on the Events section of our website to see upcoming courses.
In-House Counsel
Our team of experienced lawyers is well-equipped to support you in various ways. Whether you require advice on a specific issue, additional resources due to capacity constraints, or a second opinion, we are here to help. Explore our legal counsel page for more information and details on our schedule of seminars, specifically designed for in-house counsel.
How we work with you
Whilst based in the South of England, Paris Smith acts for businesses and families throughout the UK. Technology has enabled us to provide a high level of service to our clients whether they are local to our offices or not. Our advice can be given in many ways:
Over the telephone
Via video conferencing
In face to face meetings
We will talk through how you would like to be contacted and the best ways for us to meet in our early conversations with you.
“Sources say “The employment law team is very current, aware and up-to-date with legislation and knowledgeable on a wide range of matters;” “The service has always been very professional and informative and I have always had confidence in the people I have dealt with;” “The Paris Smith Employment Team has great experience and genuine flair in acting for a range of clients over the full spectrum of employment law;” “The advice Paris Smith gives is sound, and it always takes into consideration the commercial aspects as well as the legal framework;” and “The experience of the team really shines through.””
Chambers Legal Directory 2025
“Sources say “They give excellent practical employment advice”; “The team at Paris Smith are exceptional. They are a super friendly, approachable team. They quickly cut through the matter at hand with insight and expertise. Their guidance is clear and well thought through. They can absolutely be relied upon to find a way through what might otherwise seem like a problematic situation.””
Legal 500 2025 Edition – Client Testimonials
“It is great that Paris Smith are willing to be at the forefront of such initiatives.
Any information or awareness about Mental Health First Aid at work is invaluable. It is great that Paris Smith are willing to be at the forefront of such initiatives, hopefully this will encourage other business and corporates to follow suit. Our people are our greatest assets, after all.
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Sue McKenna, Chief Executive
Trinity Winchester
“I have been a client of Paris Smith’s Employment law department for several years, including for the resolution of a challenging worker-related dispute. The team has been superb throughout, far exceeding my expectations in terms of their professionalism, proactiveness, pragmatism and generous spirit, often going above and beyond in their service delivery to bring the matter to a far better than hoped for conclusion. At a personal level, everyone I dealt with was delightful too. Paris Smith will certainly remain by ‘go to’ law firm for employment and other legal advice!”
Employment experts Tabytha Cunningham and Claire Merritt answer the common questions managers have managing mental health at work. The pandemic has made it even more difficult to spot the signs of poor mental health, so how can we make sure we are being proactive as employers?
01:55 What do we mean by managing mental ill health at work?
03:56 When are employers liable for work related stress? What are the risk factors and where do employers stand?
07:00 What proactive steps can managers take to improve mental health of staff?
11:03 What does it mean to be a mental health first aider?
12:05 When is poor mental health classed as a disability?
16:26 If someone is disabled, what adjustments should you make?
18:42 What should potential triggers or warning signs should managers look out for?
24:08 What should a manager do when an employee discloses a mental health problem?
26:20 How best to manage poor performance related to mental ill health
Resources
Managing and supporting mental health at work with Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/workplace/mental-health-at-work/taking-care-of-your-staff/useful-resources/