According to a study on work-related stress from the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, stress is the second most frequently reported work-related health problem in Europe, after musculoskeletal disorders.
Over a nine-year period, nearly 28% of European workers reported exposure to psychosocial risks that affected their mental well-being. The 2015 European Week for Safety and Health at Work, running from October 19 to 23, is part of the Healthy Workplaces Campaign, ‘Manage Stress’.
In today’s modern workplace, a certain level of pressure is completely normal and to be expected, says Patricia Murray, occupational psychologist with the Health and Safety Authority.
“However, when this pressure develops into a persistently stressful working environment, with little or no supports in place, people can find it difficult to cope and some may develop a range of health issues as a result. And, as with most potential health issues, it is much better to take a preventative approach.”
For the individual, the negative effects of poorly managed psycho-social risks include work-related stress, poor mental health, burnout, concentration difficulties, domestic problems, drug and alcohol abuse, and poor physical health. The organisation can ultimately suffer from poor overall business performance, absenteeism, and increased accident and injury rates. Research has also shown that work-related stress may contribute to increased rates of early retirement, particularly in white-collar workers. Estimates of the cost to businesses run into the billions.