Stress in the Workplace – Employers Responsibilities

Posted 3 years ago

There’s actually no specific law that covers workplace stress, but employers do have a responsibility under the Health and Safety at Work Act to ensure the good health, safety and welfare of their staff. Additionally, employers must respect their duty under common law to take reasonable steps to ensure their employees’ positive wellbeing.

Employers should also consider including assessing the risk of workplace stress and responding to that assessment as part of their workplace risk assessments. It will help to communicate and manage possible risks. As well as the legal obligations, there are other benefits like cost benefits – savings on sickness absence, replacing staff – and increased productivity from employees too.

A few causes of work-related stress are:

an overload of work;
bullying;
lack of support and;
a bad working environment.

But the cause of stress isn’t always work-related. Often, employees stress is caused by outside influences.

Examples of outside influences to stress are:

bereavement;
relationship issues or;
a disability.

A disability may be the employees or someone for whom they are caring for. Whatever the cause of their stress, you as an employer or manager must identify your stressed employees.

How can you help stressed employees?

Set clear goals for your employees – By setting clear goals, your team members do not have to think long and hard about what their initial task was supposed to be. It gives them a clear idea of how the task should be completed, rather than doing it their own way, which could lead them to the wrong track.

Better recognition – Employees who feel they have a positive personal rapport with their employer are much more likely to be engaged in their work, and they would feel better appreciated when their work efforts are noticed.

Be a resource – Simple projects can turn into a nightmare when all the correct resources aren’t available for your staff. If your employees don’t have what they need to do their jobs, they are more likely to be stressed at work. So give them what they need. Be sure your employees have all of the necessary resources to do their jobs and when they ask for new equipment or tools, seriously consider their request.

Online Stress Awareness & Management Training

We offer an Online Stress Awareness & Management Training course that teaches employees to understand, identify, reduce, and prevent stress in the workplace. It will also provide an understanding of the mental and physical impact stress can have on an individual. This is training is IOSH Approved and Skills for Care Endorsed.

Our course only takes 30 minutes to complete! Once completed, you will take a 20 question multiple-choice test that will provide you with a printable certificate upon completion.

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