Dealing with stress in your staff

We all work under varying amounts of pressure and, provided this is not excessive, this pressure can stimulate and motivate us and keep us engaged.  Work related stress may be defined as being “the adverse reaction people have to excessive work pressures or other types of demand placed on them” (Health & Safety Executive (HSE)).  If not excessive, pressure does not necessarily give rise to stress.  Although the University’s prime responsibility is to address staff’s work related stress it recognises that stress may also arise from issues outside work and it will remain sympathetic.

The University expects you, as a manager, to identify signs and symptoms of undue stress in your staff and to assess the risks of harm, to them personally and to your team.  It also expects you to help your staff to deal with issues causing them stress, by discussion and with the assistance of your line management and the University’s support services (eg the Occupational Health Service).