Causes of stress

HSE has identified six factors that can lead to work related stress if they are not managed properly.

It is important to understand each of the six factors and how they are related to each other, as this can influence the amount of stress an individual experiences.

Management Standards

Demands:

Employees indicate that they are able to cope with the demands of their jobs.

Control:

Employees indicate that they are able to have a say about the way they do their work.

Support:

Employees indicate that they receive adequate information and support from their colleagues and superiors.

Relationships:

Employees indicate that they are not subjected to unacceptable behaviours, e.g. bullying at work.

Role:

Employees indicate that they understand their role and responsibilities.

Change:

Employees indicate that the organisation engages them frequently when undergoing an organisational change.

All:

Systems are in place locally to respond to any individual concerns.

Understanding that these six factors can cause stress for employees can help managers and employees to answer the questions:

• Does my organisation or team have a problem with stress?
• If 'yes', what do I need to do or change to reduce stress in my team?
• If 'no' what do I need to do to prevent stress being a problem in the future?

We have established good practice guidance for each of these factors. We hope that this helps everyone take a proactive approach to preventing and managing stress in your workplace.