Managing work related stress and anxiety

Work related stress is the misfit between a worker's needs and capabilities, and what the workplace offers and demands. 

The National Health and Safety Commission (NOHSC) identified stress as the most significant psychological hazard in the workplace, affecting both the mental and physical wellbeing of employees.

In 2013, Safe Work Australia (SWA) released its first report on work-related mental stress and its associated costs based on an analysis of Australian workers' compensation claims data from 2008-09 to 2010-11. The report, which can be downloaded from the SWA website, revealed that mental stress is costing Australian businesses over $10 billion dollars per year. 

Despite this, and the fact that stress has been recognised as a major occupational hazard by unions and government authorities world wide, many Australian employers still do little about the issue.

Employers can help reduce work related stress by:

•   Offering company wide extracurricular activities, such as a company football team. This can be used in team building/strengthening, as well as, assisting in general health & wellbeing of workers. 

•   Providing cool drinking water and promoting healthy eating decisions. Eating well (less sugary, salty and processed foods) will help clear the body of toxins, decreasing fatigue and improving alertness to manage stress.

•   Minimising interruptions. Interruptions at work can cause stress, impacting on productivity. Workers should be trained in prioritising tasks such as answering phone calls and emails at a set time.

ISOsafe can assist in the development of stress management policies, initiatives & training programs for your business - contact us today