Managing stress in the workplace:

We all need some pressure in our lives. It is shown to make our work satisfying and helps us meet deadlines. But it's all about balance. Too much pressure causes stress, which can be damaging to our health.

Workplace stress is different for everyone - what is stressful for one person may not be stressful for another. That said, work-related stress accounts for over a third of all new incidences of ill health.

The effects of Organisational Stress:

• Stress reduces morale, performance and productivity of the workforce
• Stress increases poor timekeeping
• Stress increases workplace absenteeism which has a domino effect on colleagues who have to cover
• Stress is a major contributor to staff turnover resulting in additional recruitment and retraining costs
• Insurance premiums increase with increased stress claims
• Litigation costs for stress claims are increasing

Why tackle stress in the workplace?

As well as reducing sickness absence costs to an organisation, tackling stress can have a positive effect on:

• Employee commitment to work
• Staff performance and productivity
• Staff turnover or intention to leave
• Staff recruitment and retention
• Customer satisfaction
• Organisation image and reputation