Work Related Stress

In recent years, work related stress has become a major concern for employers and employees alike and is a major cause of occupational ill health.  According to the Health and Safety Executive, a total of 12.8 million working days were lost in 2004/5 to stress, depression and anxiety.

Some stress can be a good thing: being under pressure can encourage many of us to solve difficult problems or challenge us to go the extra distance to achieve a goal.  However, too much stress can lead to exhaustion, anger, frustration and depression.  Continued unrelieved stress can lead to emotional problems and physical illness.

Common Causes of Work Related Stress

There are many reasons why people feel stress at work.  Some common causes include:

• Working environment and conditions: for example, noise, temperature, lighting, unsociable or long hours, shift work, adapting to 'change'
• Work demands: for example, too much work or too little work, pressure to meet deadlines or production quotas, montonous, repetitive work, confusing or conflicting demands, tasks beyond or below the worker's capabilities, responsibility for people
• Working relationships: for example, the threat of violence or aggression, including harassment or bullying by managers or colleagues, lack of support from management, poor communication and involvement in decision making (too much or too little), organisational style (i.e.: authoritarian or participative, tolerance of mistakes, the nature of "office politics")
• Worker Expectations: for example, pay or other benefits, status, job, security and promotion expectations - particularly if these expectations are unrealistic.

KNOW THE SIGNS OF STRESS

Outlined below are some of the typical indicators of stress.  One of your employees might show any one or all of these symptoms at any one time.  Please keep in mind, however, that people do react to stress or extreme pressure in different ways.

Physical signs include:                                  

• Fatigue                                            
• Headaches                                       
• Upset stomach                                 
• Backaches                                        
• Insomnia                                         
• Weight loss
• Dizziness
• Blurred Vision
• Sweating
• Muscle tension
• Shortness of breath
• Skin rashes
• Change in appetite
• High blood pressure

Emotional signs include:

• Irritability
• Hostility
• Anxiety
• Loss of concentration
• Loss of confidence
• Isolation from work colleagues or deterioration in working relationships

Stress can also affect behaviour, leading to dependency on alcohol, tobacco or caffeine, poor timekeeping and increased sickness absence etc.

The symptoms outlined above are the immediate effects of stress.  Continued stress can lead to ulcers, high blood pressure, heart disease and poor health in general.  It is therefore important that you are quickly able to recognise the signs of stress in your workers and take prompt remedial action.

Advice on how to manage the issue of work related stress sensibly and minimise its impact on your business is available on the Health and Safety Executive's website.

To get a stress free quote for your business insurance, contact your chosen Cherrypicked Insurance broker.

 

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