How to deal with stress

Common causes of stress at work

It's important to recognise the common causes of stress at work so that you can take steps to reduce stress levels where possible.

Some typical stress inducers

• Excessively high workloads, with unrealistic deadlines making people feel rushed, under pressure and overwhelmed.
• Insufficient workloads, making people feel that their skills are being underused.
• A lack of control over work activities.
• A lack of interpersonal support or poor working relationships leading to a sense of isolation.
• People being asked to do a job for which they have insufficient experience or training.
• Difficulty settling into a new promotion, both in terms of meeting the new role's requirements and adapting to possible changes in relationships with colleagues.
• Concerns about job security, lack of career opportunities, or level of pay.
• Bullying or harassment.
• A blame culture within your business where people are afraid to get things wrong or to admit to making mistakes.
• Weak or ineffective management which leaves employees feeling they don't have a sense of direction, or over-management, which can leave employees feeling undervalued and affect their self-esteem.
• Multiple reporting lines for employees, with each manager asking for their work to be prioritised.
• Failure to keep employees informed about significant changes to the business, causing them uncertainty about their future.
• A poor physical working environment, eg excessive heat, cold or noise, inadequate lighting, uncomfortable seating, malfunctioning equipment, etc.

Conflict at work can also be a common area of stress, see our guide on managing conflict.

You can download a guide on managing work-related stress from the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) website (PDF) - Opens in a new window.

You can also download information about stress at work on the Acas website - Opens in a new window.

Employees worried about job security or money problems could call the NHS Credit Crunch Stressline on Tel 0300 123 2000.

Businesses in Northern Ireland can get information on stress management from the Health & Safety Executive for Northern Ireland website - Opens in a new window or from the Employment Medical Advisory Service on Tel 028 9040 8004.

Subjects covered in this guide

• Introduction
• Why tackling stress in your business is important
• Common causes of stress at work
• Assess whether stress is a problem for your business
• Identify signs of stress in employees
• Tackle the causes of workplace stress
• External causes of stress
• Stress-management training and counselling
• Dealing with your own stress
• Supporting employees with mental ill health
• Here's how we tackle stress to create a healthier working environment

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