Work-related stress (WRS) is as “a harmful reaction people have to undue pressures and demands placed on them at work” (HSE, 2021).
In 2020/21, stress, depression and anxiety accounted for 50% of all work-related ill health cases. This is higher than the 2018/19 pre-corona virus figures. Consequently, the reduction of WRS is now firmly on the Health and Safety Executive’s agenda, as it should be for any organisation.
What Causes WRS?
According to THOR-GP (the General Practitioners’ research network), the main work activities reported by patients as causing work-related stress (depression and anxiety) are: workload pressures, including tight deadlines (37%); interpersonal relationships, i.e., lack of managerial support or violence, threats or bullying (23%); and change (12%).
What’s the Law in Relation to WRS?
Both statutory and common law consider WRS, with common law fast evolving as individual cases set precedent. At their heart, lies the employer’s duty:
- To identify significant and foreseeable risks to employee health, and
- To prevent harm to employee health that is foreseeable and caused by work.
How Foreseeable a Risk to Health is Work-Related Stress?
- The opening statements suggest that WRS is prevalent and has real health effects. This is particularly the case within; public administration and defence, human health and social work activities, and education, where WRS prevalence is above average (HSE, 2021). Of note, WRS is particularly prevalent within those classed as professionals within these sectors.
- With an employer’s duty to identify risks and ‘to consult with employees on health and safety matters’, employers should at least be following the HSE’s current risk assessment guidelines for WRS. This will help identify concerns, causes and solutions.
- Although employers can expect employees to withstand normal work pressures, employers should be vigilant of the potential causes and signs of WRS. These include one-off and ongoing abnormal pressures within an individual’s workplace, (e.g., inadequate staffing, unclear expectations), or changes in an employee (e.g., their appearance, social interactions, behavioural patterns and performance).
Summary
The statistics and evolving common law tells us that if an employer; accepts WRS as a health and safety issue, asks employees about WRS, and knows what to look for, WRS becomes more foreseeable.
This not only enables employers to meet their duty to protect employees from WRS by taking reasonable care in managing the workplace, but also to gain the increasingly recognised business benefits of a healthy workforce.
We hope that the above article has been of interest and benefit to your organisation.
