The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is encouraging employers and managers to take practical steps to prevent and manage workplace stress as Stress Awareness Week begins.
Work related stress remains one of the leading causes of occupational ill health in Great Britain, contributing to sickness absence, reduced wellbeing and workplace performance issues.
HSE is reminding employers that they have a responsibility to assess and manage stress risks in the same way as other occupational health and safety hazards.
Working Minds campaign promotes five steps
Through its Working Minds campaign, HSE is encouraging organisations to adopt its 5Rs approach to managing workplace stress.
The framework encourages employers to Reach Out to workers, Recognise the signs and causes of stress, Respond to concerns, Reflect on existing measures and make stress prevention Routine.
These steps are intended to support regular communication and help organisations identify workplace pressures before they result in harm.
Six areas of workplace stress
HSE is also highlighting its Management Standards approach, which identifies six areas that can contribute to occupational stress. These cover Demands, Control, Support, Relationships, Role and Change.
Employers are encouraged to assess how these factors affect employees and implement measures to eliminate or control identified risks.
Employers reminded of legal responsibilities
Kayleigh Roberts, HSE’s Work Related Stress Policy Lead, said: “Work-related stress is a health and safety issue. Employers should assess the risks of stress, and its impact on mental and physical ill-health, in the same way they assess other work-related health and safety risks.
“By understanding the causes of stress, engaging with workers and taking action to eliminate or control risks, employers can help create workplaces where people feel supported, valued and able to perform at their best.
“Stress Awareness Week is a valuable opportunity for employers and managers to review what they are doing, start conversations with workers and take practical steps to prevent work-related stress.”
HSE recommends reviewing existing stress risk assessments to ensure they reflect current workplace conditions.
Free resources available for employers
The Working Minds campaign provides guidance and tools to help organisations manage occupational stress.
Resources include the Talking Toolkit, Stress Indicator Tool, online learning modules and downloadable guidance.
Employers are encouraged to use these materials to support workplace discussions, improve management practices and strengthen preventive measures.
HSE emphasises that managing workplace stress should remain an ongoing priority beyond Stress Awareness Week.
