Managing Work-Related Stress in the Workplace
This blog is aimed at managers or staff with responsibility for managing the potential causes of work-related stress in your organisation. That might include the person coordinating your stress risk assessment, human resources managers, health and safety officers, trade union representatives, or line managers. Use this information to review your risk management plan for stress in the workplace and overall mental health and well-being.
What is Stress?
Stress is the adverse reaction people experience to excessive pressures or other types of demand placed on them. There is a clear distinction between pressure, which can create a motivating ‘buzz’, and stress, which occurs when this pressure becomes excessive.
In June, Tyne and Wear was found to be the fourth most stressed region in the UK, with adults reporting feeling stressed at least once a month on average. The most common cause of stress was work-related.
Research has shown work-related stress can affect organisations through:
Employee commitment to work
Staff performance and productivity
Accidents caused by human error
Staff turnover and intention to leave
Attendance levels
Staff recruitment and retention
Customer satisfaction
Organisational image and reputation
Potential litigation
Consider the impact on your team too. If one team member is absent for an extended period due to stress-related illness, the workload and morale of the rest of the team may suffer.
Business Benefits of Managing Stress
You can reduce the effects of stress on your organisation and gain commercial benefits by minimising workplace pressures. Organisations that proactively address stress are already seeing positive results.
Prolonged periods of stress, especially from the workplace, are harmful to health. Stress is linked to:
Physical effects such as heart disease, back pain, headaches, gastrointestinal disturbances, and minor illnesses
Psychological effects such as anxiety, depression, loss of concentration, and poor decision-making
Stress may also trigger behaviours such as social withdrawal, violent behaviour, alcohol or drug misuse, eating disorders, and excessive work hours, all of which can affect mental and physical health.
To reduce work-related stress, the HSE developed the Management Standards approach. Its goal is to lower the number of workers missing work due to stress or being unable to perform effectively. Businesses are encouraged to work with employees and representatives to manage demands that lead to stress, benefiting both staff and the organisation.
Managers are supported through the Management Standards approach, which uses risk assessments, surveys, and active employee engagement to select real improvements.
The Work-Related Stress Management Standards
The Management Standards define traits of organisations that effectively manage stress hazards. They cover six key areas, which, if poorly managed, are linked to poor health, reduced productivity, and higher absenteeism:
Demands – workload, work patterns, and environment
Control – the level of say employees have in how they do their work
Support – encouragement, sponsorship, and resources from the organisation, line management, and colleagues
Relationships – promoting positive working, avoiding conflict, and handling unacceptable behaviour
Role – clarity of roles and avoiding conflicting responsibilities
Change – management and communication of organisational change
How the Management Standards Approach Helps
Employers have a duty to control risks from work activity. The approach simplifies risk assessment by:
Identifying main risk factors
Focusing on underlying causes and prevention
Providing a step-by-step assessment guide
Encouraging partnership between employers, employees, and representatives
Offering a benchmark for organisational performance in managing stress
Carrying out a risk assessment doesn’t reduce stress itself, but the actions resulting from it will.
You are not required to follow the Management Standards approach, but it is widely regarded as appropriate and sufficient. Using the step-by-step process can save time, especially if starting from scratch. Smaller organisations may implement it faster than larger ones.
Some organisations already have their own methods, sometimes avoiding the word “stress” in favour of “wellness” or “productive workplaces.” The Management Standards can help implement risk assessments efficiently and put action plans into effect quickly.
For more information, visit HSE for resources on stress management and mental health in the workplace.
About Talbot Jones
Talbot Jones Ltd is a family-run Chartered Insurance Broker specialising in Third Sector and Professional risks. We provide free insurance advice, reviews, and quotations.
Talbot Jones Ltd also incorporates March Insurance Services, a Chartered Insurance Broker specialising in Agricultural and Hospitality Risks.
