Stress takes toll on productivity

Stress
in the workplace is affecting more than 65 per cent of the UK workforce and
damaging its overall productivity, according to data from a firm that runs a
hotline for employers and staff.

Croner
Consulting sampled 20,000 calls made to its helpline and found that 65 per cent
of employees complained of stress and 56 per cent said it had an adverse effect
on productivity.

In
addition more than half of all business owners and managers identified stress
as a major concern over the next 12 months.

Croner
analysed its results and found a number of factors that influenced workplace
stress:

Sustained
pressures pilling up

Staff
feel trapped and unable to exert control

Staff
confused by conflicting or ambiguous demands

High
degrees of uncertainty about work, objectives or job prospects

Inflexible
and demanding schedules

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Stuart
Mutch, a consultant in the safety department of Croner said the risk of
workplace stress was growing and employers should be able to recognise the
warning signs.

By Ross Wigham