Stress Management

1. The Cost of Ignoring Stress

Stress is the single biggest cause of absence in the UK affecting one in five workers. Each case of stress-related ill health leads to an average of 30.9 working days lost.

1.1 Work-related stress can result in high levels of employee turnover.

• This can disrupt business and reduce productivity. It also increases costs (for example, on recruitment and training).

1.2 Employees experiencing stress are more likely to make poor decisions and casual errors.

• They may apply faulty judgement to important matters. For example, in contract negotiations.

1.3 Workplace relations and customer service may deteriorate.

• Employees are likely to be more irritable and less tolerant.

1.4 Individual employees experiencing work-related stress might take their employer to court.

• Settlements can be expensive.