According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), stress is defined as the 'adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or other types of demand placed on them'. The HSE notes six main areas which can contribute to work-related stress if they are not managed properly:
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demands - employees can become overloaded with work
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control - if staff feel they have no control over their work, this can lead to poor performance and stress
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support - managers should be available for staff and provide them with sufficient support to avoid them becoming stressed
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relationships - poor relationships between colleagues can lead to bullying and other grievances
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role - employees should understand how their role fits into the bigger picture, or they may start to may feel anxiety about job security
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change - any type of change can lead to uncertainty and insecurity, so it must be correctly managed