In 2018/19 stress, depression or anxiety accounted for 44% of all work-related ill health cases in the UK and 54% of all working days lost due to ill health.
In 2019, 94% of American workers report experiencing stress at their workplace, and 63% are ready to quit their jobs due to stress.
Everyone who has ever held a job has, at some point, felt the pressure of work-related stress. Even the most enjoyable and fulfilling job can have stressful elements. In the short-term, a little bit of stress can help people to stay focused, energetic, and motivated to tackle new challenges. It’s what keeps people on their toes during a presentation, alert to hazards and mistakes, and striving to meet deadlines.
But in today’s hectic world, long hours, tight deadlines, and ever-increasing demands can lead to overwhelming feelings of worry and anxiety. And when stress becomes chronic and exceeds a person’s ability to cope, it stops being helpful and becomes harmful to both physical and emotional health.
Managers and organisations, therefore, need to be alert to the signs and symptoms of harmful stress and to have strategies in place to protect workers from becoming burned out and developing mental health issues. Equally, each individual should take responsibility for managing their own stress levels and for responding to high-stress situations appropriately – making positive health choices, establishing boundaries between work and home, taking time to recharge, practicing relaxation and mindfulness – and most importantly, seeking help and support when things threaten to become too much.