In other words, stress occurs when the pressures on a person exceed their ability to deal with them and the repercussions of work related stress have been highlighted in various recent research reports.
"Stress at work" commissioned by the British Academy to evaluate the current state of research on work related stress concluded that work related stress is getting worse against the background of the economic crisis, cost cutting and Lord Youngs, the government health and safety “Czar”, views on low risks.
Professor Chandola the reports author stated work related stress is a common determinant of mental disorders, cardiovascular disease and heavily linked to sickness absence. The professor went on to explain that since 2009 there has been a sharp rise in job strain and job insecurity both determinants of work related stress. Poor support and bullying also appears to have increased.
This theory was echoed by Professor Sir Michael Marmot, lead author of the Whitehall II study of civil servants who said “fair employment” is key to tackling the stress problem.
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) biennial poll of safety reps showed nearly two thirds highlighting stress as a top five problem faced by the workforce. After stress bullying and harassment was the second most common. Overwork, listed separately for the first time, came in fifth.
Stress appears more prevalent in the public than private sector with 68% saying it was a problem as opposed to 54%. This is backed up by a survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development which found that stress is the most common cause of persistently high long term absence.
The TUC believe a reason why stress is not being prevented is because too many employees put it in the “too difficult” box. Brendan Barber, TUC General Secretary, said there is a clear solution, risk assess, identify the stressors and put controls in place. He also suggested that lack of enforcement is also a barrier to improving the situation with employers being well aware that the chances of a prosecution for not tackling stress are almost nil.
Barber believes we are facing a ticking time bomb that could have a devastating effect on us all, saying we need to reduce stress levels before it becomes a 21st century epidemic.
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