What is Work Related Stress?

Stress is commonly defined as “the adverse reaction a person has to excessive pressures or other types of demand placed on them.”

Many would add “ … when that person feels, at that time, that they cannot cope.”

So it is all about what people think they can handle, not necessarily what they actually can manage.

Work related stress is simply that part of stress that results from pressure at work, and it is often very difficult to separate that from pressures created by a person’s private life. It is clear, though, that where a person is under severe pressure in both their work and private lives there is a much greater risk of stress and consequent ill-health.

Prolonged exposure to stress results in unhealthy physical, emotional, mental and behavioural symptoms, including some serious and possibly life-threatening diseases, but stress itself is not an illness.

The good news is that if you take action, stress and its unpleasant consequences can be avoided. This is especially true in the workplace, where most pressure can be reduced by better management. Find out what is stressing your employees and you have found out how better to manage your organisation.