Over recent years work related stress appears to be on the increase with the total number of cases of stress in 2011/12 being 428,000 this is 40% of the total number of work related illnesses.

In a study conducted by the Health and Safety Executive it was reported that one in five of all working individuals thought that their job was very or extremely stressful and around half a million people in Britain believed that they were experiencing work-related stress at a level that was making them ill.

So what is Stress? The HSE define stress as “the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressure or other demands placed on them” and it tends to happen when an individual feels that they cannot cope with pressure. This pressure can come in many different forms i.e. by mental or physical conditions, or, from a combination of both and it can trigger very different psychological responses. When the human body fears it is under attack it automatically responds. The pulse rate increases, blood flow to the brain and to major muscle group’s increases, and adrenaline and other stimulants are released into the blood stream. All these relate to the human instinct for "fight or flight" when attacked. The extra blood flow and stimulants get the body ready for physical activity.

Anyone can suffer from stress at work, however it is often very difficult to identify if it is caused due to work related issues as it can be brought on by other reasons such as personal problems at home, financial or relationship issues.

Whilst some workplace stress is normal and can have a positive affect on individuals for example, when required to meet a deadline, it can sometimes spur individuals on to solve a difficult problem or it can challenge them to go the extra distance to achieve a goal and make work satisfying, it is however, important to strike the right balance as excessive stress can interfere with productivity and impact employees physical and emotional health. If an individual feels that he/she is under too much stress then it can leave them tired, angry, frustrated and depressed and the prolonged stress can lead to physical and mental health breakdowns which could also lead to possible fatal accidents. Studies show that people who are under stress tend to have more accidents because of errors in their judgement. Unfortunately, work related stress is not one size fits all, as everyone is different and what may be stressful to one person may not be to another.
Work related stress is not an illness but it can contribute to problems with ill health. As well as anxiety, depression stress can be associated with:
[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME~1/SOPHIE~1/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg[/IMG] Heart conditions [IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME~1/SOPHIE~1/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg[/IMG] Backache and/or neckache [IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME~1/SOPHIE~1/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg[/IMG] Skin rashes
[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME~1/SOPHIE~1/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg[/IMG] Headaches [IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME~1/SOPHIE~1/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg[/IMG] Tiredness and sleep problems [IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME~1/SOPHIE~1/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg[/IMG] Sweating
[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME~1/SOPHIE~1/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg[/IMG] Muscular tension [IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME~1/SOPHIE~1/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg[/IMG] Digestive problems [IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME~1/SOPHIE~1/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg[/IMG] Blurred vision
Stress can also cause individuals to suffer from psychological symptoms such as:
[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME~1/SOPHIE~1/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg[/IMG] A lower sex drive (libido) [IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME~1/SOPHIE~1/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg[/IMG] Feeling that you can't cope
[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME~1/SOPHIE~1/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg[/IMG] Irritability and mood swings [IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME~1/SOPHIE~1/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg[/IMG] Disturbed eating patterns
[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME~1/SOPHIE~1/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg[/IMG] Finding it hard to concentrate [IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME~1/SOPHIE~1/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg[/IMG] Feeling less motivated
As an employer you have a duty under health and safety legislation to take reasonable care and safe guard the health, safety and welfare of your employees. If an employee suffers from stress related ill health and a court decides you could have prevented it then you could be found negligent to which there is no limit to the compensation that can be awarded to your employee. Also if you were to dismiss an employee because they have work related stress then an employment tribunal will treat this as unfair dismissal unless it can be proved that you have acted reasonably. (Further advice on this can be obtained through Citations Employment Law helpline.)

Anyone can suffer from work related stress and it will depend on the circumstances the employee is facing at the time. Preventing stress is good for individuals as well as for the business. Stress can be costly, especially for small businesses as absences can reflect badly on the business as it often decreases staff performance, productivity and morale ultimately leading to poor client support. Research estimates that there are approximately 12.8 million working days lost per year due to stress and anxiety.
Senior management sometimes feel that they should not inform staff members about the symptoms of stress as they will be faced with an epidemic of sufferers within the organisation. This is often not the case and can have cost benefits. Some forms of stress can easily be prevented - for example, the kind of organisational stress caused by poor management or the lack of policies for dealing with bullying or discipline.

Tackling stress is generally all about good management and all members of staff should participate in the control of stress within the workplace. Individual stress including relationships or personal problems outside work can often be reduced with the right kind of understanding and support.

Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations it is a requirement to assess the risk of stress related ill health in the workplace, this assessment should be undertaken in the same way as any other risk assessment. The cause of work related stress can often be diverse and complex but is essentially associated with the design and organisation of work including work management.

Typical risks that can cause stress are:
[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME~1/SOPHIE~1/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg[/IMG] Violence, threats of violence and verbal abuse from members of the public or bullying from work colleagues, sexism/sexual harassment and racism/racial harassment.
[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME~1/SOPHIE~1/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg[/IMG] Your expectations, job, career i.e. pay status job security or promotion can cause stress, especially if they are unrealistic.
[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME~1/SOPHIE~1/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg[/IMG] Poor lighting, noise, uncomfortable temperatures, long work hours, changing shift patterns and work with hazardous materials.
[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME~1/SOPHIE~1/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg[/IMG] The individuals around you for example your relationship with your manager, supervisor colleagues or customers can be a source of strength or stress.
[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME~1/SOPHIE~1/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg[/IMG] Low pay rates, repetitive and monotonous work and possible poor child care provisions
It is important to ensure that when staff take time off due to work related stress they return to work as quickly as possible with a well managed return to work interview being undertaken. This will help reduce the absence from becoming long term as individuals often find it more difficult to return after a sustained absence. A return to work discussion should be held with the individual to help identify what caused them to go off work and to help identify what adjustments their manager needs to make. If necessary this may need to be completed by an impartial person of equal standing as the individual may find it difficult to talk about the issues that initiated the work related stress absence especially if they think they were being bullied etc. If necessary a staged return to work may be required i.e. working part time for the first few weeks to help ease them back into their work.