Understanding Workplace Stress
Work-related stress is one of the leading causes of sickness absence in the UK, costing businesses billions of pounds each year. The HSE defines stress as "the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or other types of demand placed on them."
It is important to distinguish between healthy pressure, which can motivate and drive performance, and stress, which occurs when demands exceed an individual's ability to cope.
The HSE Management Standards
The HSE has identified six key areas of work design that, if not properly managed, can lead to stress:
- Demands: Workload, work patterns, and the work environment
- Control: How much say employees have in the way they do their work
- Support: Encouragement, sponsorship, and resources provided by the organisation and line managers
- Relationships: Promoting positive working relationships and dealing with unacceptable behaviour
- Role: Whether people understand their role and whether the organisation ensures they do not have conflicting roles
- Change: How organisational change is managed and communicated
Practical Steps for Employers
- Carry out a stress risk assessment using the HSE Management Standards approach
- Train managers to recognise the signs of stress and have supportive conversations
- Review workloads regularly and ensure they are realistic
- Promote flexible working arrangements where possible
- Create an open culture where employees feel comfortable raising concerns
- Provide access to Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) or counselling services
Legal Obligations
Employers have a legal duty to assess the risk of stress-related ill health arising from work activities. This falls under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
Our NEBOSH Working with Wellbeing Award is specifically designed to help managers understand and address workplace wellbeing. Get in touch to learn more.
