Work-related stress or tension at work can be caused by many things. What causes stress will vary from person to person. Common causes include:
- Demands: too many, contradictory, or unmatched demands to the worker’s ability
- Control: The inability to control how and when the work is completed, or the workload amount
- Support: Lack of encouragement or support from colleagues or managers
- Relationships: Bullying, harassment, and poor relationships with co-workers or bosses. For advice on the values of Workplace mediation, visit a site like co.uk/services/workplace-mediation
- Feeling unclear of your roles and responsibilities
- Change: Fear of redundancy or not engaging in change
- Other: Lack of autonomy, boredom, insufficient skill, excessive supervision, an inadequate working environment, a lack of resources, a lack of equipment or proper resources, fewer opportunities for promotion, workplace discrimination, crisis incidents, and lack of support.
Stress can affect an employee’s performance and health. There are ways to reduce stress at work, including:
- Exercise and nutrition
Stress can be resisted by strengthening your body with good nutrition and regular exercise. - Relationship development
Connecting with others at work can build a support network and make your work more enjoyable. - Talking
You should be able to discuss your feelings with your manager if you don’t feel supported. You can also write or speak to another person, like your union representative or human resources department, if you don’t feel comfortable talking to them.
