Most of us will experience stress at some point in our lives, and stress is not always a bad thing. ‘Acute stress’ occurs for short periods of time and is usually triggered by a particular event or incident. This type of stress is common and a normal part of everyday life. Acute stress can motivate and energise us. However, chronic or sustained periods of stress can be a risk factor for mental and physical ill-health.
Signs of stress can be varied, but often include mood swings, being withdrawn, a loss of motivation and concentration and reduced emotional resilience. Physical symptoms can also be experienced, such as headaches, fatigue and a fast heart rate. These symptoms can have a negative impact on performance in the workplace. The resolution to stress often lies with removal of the stressor, rather than with any specific medical intervention. However, counselling and psychological support can be helpful in some cases.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) defines workplace stress as ‘the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressure or other types of demand on them’. Stress is the response or reaction to the pressure, and the level of reaction can differ between individuals. Not only does stress have an impact on a person, it can also have a negative impact on businesses too.
On average, 17 million sick days are lost every year due to stress and mental health, and stress accounts for almost half of all documented cases of work-related ill-health. Almost 1 in 3 fit notes cite mental health as a reason for absence. It is estimated that mental health conditions as a whole cost the UK workforce £51 billion a year. Whilst stress can be caused by factors that are not related to work, work is the most common cause of stress. 79% of British employees report commonly experiencing work-related stress. Interestingly, less than half (40%) of employees who suffer from work-related stress have talked to their employers about it.
Employers have a legal duty to protect workers from stress. This can be done by completing a risk assessment to seek out practical and sustainable solutions and acting on it. The HSE have identified 6 key areas of work that can affect stress levels, and these are:
- Job demands – Workers may feel they are not able to cope with the demands of their role.
- Control – A worker may feel that they are not able to control the way in which they do their work.
- Support – Workers may perceive that they do not receive enough support to allow them to undertake their role effectively.
- Relationships – Difficult interpersonal relationships or bullying in the workplace can be significant sources of stress.
- Role – Some workers may perceive that they do not fully understand their role or responsibilities. They may, in fact, be in a role that is not suited to their skillset or capabilities.
- Change – Change to a role, a team or a business can cause employee stress, especially when they may not have been consulted about the changes.
The HSE have set up ‘Working Minds’ in an attempt to raise awareness of workplace stress and wellbeing. The aim of the campaign is to encourage employers to:
- Reach out – To reach out to employees to start difficult conversations about work related stress.
- Recognise – To recognise the signs of stress within the workplace
- Respond – To form an action plan so that solutions can be mutually agreed – this is likely to include a referral for occupational health advice.
- eflect – To monitor and review the actions that have been taken to ensure they are effective.
- Make It Routine – To check in on employee wellbeing and levels of stress regularly.
More information on this campaign (along with free resources for employers) can be found here:
https://workright.campaign.gov.uk/campaigns/working-minds/
Please contact us if you need professional medical advice regarding stress in the workplace. We can help employers and employees by providing tailored workplace adjustment services, equipment recommendations, individual medical assessments, education programmes and staff training.
Further resources:
For individuals experiencing stress:
https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/mental-wellbeing-tips/self-help-cbt-techniques/
For employers:
