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Managing Workplace Stress

Unrecognised, workplace stress produces lower productivity, higher absenteeism and poor decision making. Additionally, it can create long-term mental health problems in otherwise healthy individuals. Stress-induced workplace absenteeism is now classified as a disability which can result in employees seeking long-term support from their employer.

Psychologists in collaboration with the UK's Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have identified six generic factors which contribute to workplace stress, and must now be periodically risk-assessed by employers. This stress management standard is available free of charge at the following site:

Six Contributing Factors to Workplace Stress

Demands: includes issues like workload, work patterns, and the work environment;
Control: how much say the person has in the way they do their work;
Support: encouragement, sponsorship and resources available from line management and colleagues;
Relationships: promoting positive working to avoid conflict and dealing with unacceptable behaviour;
Role: people understanding their role within the organisation and the organisation ensuring that the person does not have conflicting roles;
Change: how organisational change (large or small) is managed and communicated in the organisation.

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