Dealing with Work-Related Stress
Work-related stress is an increasing problem both in Britain and abroad. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimates that as many as one in five employees are affected and that it accounts for over six million sick days each year.
What is stress and what is its impact?
Stress is not the same thing as pressure. Stress is the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressure. It isn't a disease but if stress is intense and continues for a period of time it can lead to ill health both physical and mental. For example, depression, nervous breakdown and heart disease.
What are the likely costs of stress to my business?
The costs of stress may show up in high staff turnover, an increase in sickness absence, reduced work performance, poor timekeeping and increased customer complaints.
Risk factors
To help businesses address the problem, the HSE has identified six broad categories of risk factors for work-related stress. These are summarised above right together with a note of the problems that can lead to stress, but further detail can be found on the HSE website.
Demands of the job
People may perceive that they have too much to do and not enough time. Or perhaps they feel they don't get enough training or that the job is just boring and repetitive.
Control
Do the staff have a say in planning their work?
Relationships
Perhaps there is evidence of bullying or harassment in the workplace.
Change
Uncertainty about the future and fears over job security can lead to stress.
Role
Staff feeling confused about what is expected of them.
Support
Is there support from colleagues and managers? Is there a positive attitude to achieving a healthy work-life balance?
The HSE is considering formally adopting standards in each of these areas to use as a basis for assessing businesses. The risk of legal action may follow for businesses failing to meet the standards. |
What can be done to prevent stress becoming a problem?
As an employer:
- show that you take stress seriously by being understanding and listening
- encourage managers to adopt a similar attitude
- ensure that staff have the necessary skills, training and resource
- if possible provide flexible working arrangements
- ensure bullying and harassment is not tolerated
- ensure good two-way communication.
The HSE recommends a risk assessment approach to tackling work-related stress. Performing the assessment will not in itself reduce the risk but the actions taken should. In summary the approach suggested involves:
- identifying the hazards
- establishing who might be harmed and how
- developing an action plan
- taking action
- regularly evaluating the action.
Again there is more detail on the HSE website.
Work-related stress is a difficult problem to deal with. However adopting a structured approach to it will ultimately help businesses to increase the bottom line through lower staff turnover, less time lost to sickness absence and a happier, better motivated workforce.