Stress at work

Stress is paradoxical. It can be good. It sharpens you, can be exhilarating and helps you do your job well.

Stress can also be very destructive. It can make you ill and unhappy, it reduces your productivity, it can make you under-perform at work.

The fine line between productive stress and negative stress is different for us all.

The symptoms of a stressful workplace may include:

• an increase in minor disputes and general morale.

• ineffective management.

• raised sickness rates.

• absence for minor ailments.

• high staff turnover.

• poor punctuality.

• staff loosing their spark.

• low morale.

In some employment situations stress is considered a macho thing. In other words there is a culture of working late, missing meal breaks and diary loading. This is all very well for a while and may even be exhilarating. Over longer periods however it erodes family life, causes physical ill health and reduces psychological well being. No matter how macho the culture it cannot be sustained for lengthy periods and if left unchecked can lead to breakdown.

Some people are more sensitive to stress than others. The law says you must take your victim as you find him. Therefore what is stressful to one person may not effect another.

If it is clear to an employer that an employee is suffering stress then that employer is obliged by law to do something about it.

This may include retraining, improving or increasing resources, rearranging work routines or even moving the worker out of the stressful environment. Either way an employer is entitled to take reasonably practical measures to reduce the stress if he becomes aware there is a problem.

If you are experiencing stress at work you must ensure that you follow the following simple rules.

1. See your Doctor and explain the problem.

2. If you have an occupational health department speak to them.

3. Inform Personnel.

4. If you are off sick ensure your sick lines reflect in some way the reason for your illness.

5. Speak to your boss. He must be told. If your employer is not informed of the problem he may not be in a position to resolve it.

6. If you are in a Union speak to your representative.

7. Keep a written record of complaints, to whom, when and why.

8. Keep a record of any solutions proposed or attempted by your employer.

9. Always confirm decisions in writing.

10. If all else fails submit an enquiry to a Solicitor.

Good employers will appreciate knowing about problems. It is in the employers interest as well as yours to ensure that his workplace is a healthy one in which to work.

The rules are merely common sense. If your employer does not know about it he can plead ignorance.

Where there are clear health issues that your employer does not or cannot address then you should consider obtaining legal advice in order that you can consider your position. The cardinal rule in these difficult situations is never to act hastily.

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