Stress in the workplace

25 October 2018

Stress statistics 2017

Stress accounted for almost 69% of all work related ill health claims for Social Security short term incapacity benefit in 2017, an increase of approximately 10% compared to 2016.

Situations or events at work can put pressure on employees. When workload is high and employees feel they have limited control over outcomes, their performance can be affected and they can suffer from forms of ill health, including stress.

These feelings of stress can also be initiated or exaggerated by levels of conflict in the workplace.

Legislation

To comply with the Health and Safety at Work (Jersey) Law 1989 (HSW Law), employers must ensure, 'so far as is reasonably practicable', the health, safety and welfare of their employees at work. This can be achieved by initially identifying and assessing stress as a risk, then implementing suitable control measures to manage and prevent it.

Good management, policies and procedures will show a commitment to a supportive and rewarding culture at work. Well trained managers and supervisors with suitable people skills are able to maintain a positive working environment.

When necessary they can then identify and tackle the problems which cause stress and ill health.

Useful links

The links below provide practical guidance on work related stress, how to recognise the effects and what employers and employees can do to reduce these effects. Following these principles will help ensure compliance with the legal duties imposed by the HSW Law.

Occupational health and hygiene: information for employers

Tackling work related stress: a step by step workbook on the UK HSE website