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Physical symptoms include:

• speaking or moving slower than usual
• aches and pains that can't be explained
• losing, or sometimes gaining, appetite or weight

• disturbed sleep (having trouble falling asleep, for example, or waking up very early)
• loss of energy.

Work-Related Stress

Definition – Stress

Stress is the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or other types of demand
placed on them.

Stress is not an illness, but rather a ‘state of mind’. If stress becomes excessive and prolonged, it
can lead to physical and mental health problems.

Pressure is an inherent part of work, whether it is a deadline that must not be missed, or a rate
of output that must be maintained.

Pressure does not necessarily lead to stress as each individual has a different level of pressure
that they can cope with. However, if a person finds that they are unable to cope with the
pressure they are experiencing they will start to feel the physical and mental effects.

Work-related stress is a major cause of occupational ill health which can cause severe physical
and psychological conditions among workers. It can also lead to poor productivity and human
error, increased sickness absence, increases in accidents, high staff turnover and poor
performance in your organisation.

Causes of Stress

• Demands – for example: excessive work demands in terms of workload (too much / little),
speed of work and deadlines, long working hours, changing shift patterns, inherently difficult
jobs, inherently emotional jobs, individuals’ skills not matched to job demands.

• Control – for example: lack of control over work, what work is to be done, how work is to be
done, the pace of work, priorities, lack of initiative.

• Support – for example: lack of support in terms of information, instruction and training to do
the work, lack of information in terms of support available, having no-one to turn to for
support.

• Relationships – for example: poor workplace relationships / conflict, and in particular
bullying and harassment, lack of policies and procedures to deal with these problems.

ENSIGN | Unit IG2 – Element 5 – Physical and Psychological 25
Health