Stress

Stress is the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or other types of demand placed on them. There is a clear distinction between pressure, which can create a ‘buzz’ and be a motivating factor, and stress, which can occur when this pressure becomes excessive. About 1 in 5 people say that they find their work either very or extremely stressful.

Some common causes of work related stress include: Too much work Too little work Confusing or conflicting demands Lack of recognition Lack of control over work Poor management Poor relationship with other workers

Staff suffering from stress may exhibit symptoms of irritation, aggression, poor timekeeping and absenteeism. It is vital that stress at work is addressed and sufferers supported, lest conditions worsen.

HSE has designed a set of 6 management standards to cover the primary sources of stress at work. These are based around: Demands Control Support Relationships Role Change

Demands: The organisation provides workers with adequate and achievable demands in relation to the agreed hours of work Worker’s skills and abilities are matched to the job demands Jobs are designed to be within the capabilities of workers Workers’ concerns about their work environment are addressed

Control: Workers have control over their pace of work Workers are encouraged to use their skills and initiative in their work Workers are encouraged to develop new skills to help them undertake new and challenging pieces of work Workers are encouraged to develop their skills Workers have a say over when breaks can be taken and are consulted over their work patterns

Support: The organisation has policies and procedures to adequately support workers Systems are in place to enable and encourage managers to support workers and enable and encourage workers to support their colleagues Workers know what support is available and how and when to access it Workers know how to access the required resources to do their job Workers get regular and constructive feedback

Relationships: The organisation promotes positive behaviours at work to avoid conflict and ensure fairness Workers share info relevant to their work The organisation has agreed policies and procedures to prevent or resolve unacceptable behaviour Systems are in place to enable and encourage managers to deal with unacceptable behaviour Systems are in place to enable and encourage workers to report unacceptable behaviour

Role: The organisation ensures the different requirements placed on workers are compatible The organisation provides information to enable workers to understand their role and responsibilities The organisation ensures that the requirements it places upon workers are clear Systems are in place to enable workers to raise concerns about any uncertainties they have in their role and responsibilities

Change: Workers are given timely info to enable them to understand the reasons for proposed changes The organisation ensures adequate worker consultation on changes and provides opportunities for workers to influence proposals Workers are aware of the probable impact of any changes to their jobs and are given any necessary training Workers are aware of timetables for changes Workers are supported during changes

For further details see the HSE web pages on stress