Prepared by Antoinette Raw (MASC, Dip. Ad Corp, Ad C.S)(UK)

Qualified Corporate Stress Management Practitioner, ADR Specialist, Accredited Mediator

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Research has shown work-related stress to have adverse effects for organisations in terms of:

Employee commitment to work

Staff performance and productivity

Staff turnover and intention to leave

Attendance levels

Staff recruitment and retention

Customer satisfaction

Organisational image and reputation

Potential litigation

By taking action to tackle the causes of stress in your workplace, you can prevent or reduce the impact of these problems on your organisation.

Increased conflict between employees is one sign of a stressful workingenvironment, but it also negatively affects work-place performance and resultsin increased absenteeism, to name just a few common symptoms.

Less common or noticeable symptoms include those individual psychologicalmechanisms based on escapism, where lifestyle habits undergo changes.

This can include the abuse of illegal substances, even within the workplaceenvironment, an increase in entitlement and resentment towards senior staff tocompensate for the feelings of stress.

It may also include an increase in risk taking behaviours in the form of officeaffairs, theft and fraud, physical confrontations and changes in grooming habits.

Since 1946 The World Health Organisation has defined health as not only theabsence of disease but a state of complete physical mental and social well-being. In 1986, it included that health be viewed as a resource for everyday life,not the object of living.

The South African federation of Mental Health has stated that the majority ofadults spend 50% to 80% of their waking hours at the workplace, and just under70% of employees will experience stress severe enough to inhibit coping withtheir day-to-day duties.

It’s estimated that 40% of employee absenteeism is attributable to stress and thisresults in millions in lost revenue each year for businesses.

In a recent survey it was estimated that SA business loses around R12 billion ayear because of absenteeism.

Tackling work-related stress should not just be seen as a legalobligation; there are also a range of other benefits, including:

• reduced cost of absence, including sick pay, sickness cover,overtime and recruitment

• improved workplace morale, better working relationships andincreased employee satisfaction

• increased productivity, through employees being healthier,happier and better motivated

• protection from reputational damage and financial costs ofprosecution or litigation.

Undertaking a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risk to employeehealth, absenteeism and industrial relations.

Providing analysis report to employers on the nature of risk in the business.

Develop standard processes for completing, reviewing and recording riskassessments.

Provide solutions, training and instruction to combat the problem.

Ensure risk assessment processes and policies reflect legal compliance.

Implement policies and solutions that deal with stress in the workplaceeffectively.

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