Occupational Stress Poses Risk to the Economy

According to a new survey, conducted by You Gov and published by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), it has been found that around 44% of the working population of Britain has reported an increase in work pressure following the economic downturn. Further, approximately two thirds of them have reported substantial apprehension regarding job security on account of such stress.

The IOSH has advised employers to take affirmative action for reducing pressure at the work place, especially since the economy is not in a good state and no employer can afford to lose the amount of work days that were lost last year (13.5 million), attributable to the increase in work stress and related depression.

Nattasha Freeman, the President of the IOSH, added that the workers are not only facing the problem of increasing work load along with the lack of job security, but also the problem of stagnant salaries despite a substantial rise in the cost of living. In one of the surveys, it was also found that 13% of the work population finds their work extremely stressful and hard to manage. If you’re responsible for health and safety in your organisation, click on CPP training, to learn about the importance of promoting a positive health and safety culture in your workplace environment.

The data collected by several agencies reflects that people working in public administration and social services are more prone to work related stress. Stress is equally hazardous for people working in services like defence, health, education and the financial sector. These facts are reinforced by survey reports suggesting that over 400,000 people in Britain think that they are falling ill due to work pressure.

In light of these facts, there is an urgent need for employers to take action and make health and other facilities available to the employees. The employers should ensure that stress before it strikes, instead of looking to reduce it at a later stage. Further, employees should be encouraged to make use of the health advice and other facilities available for stress reduction.

Written by admin on June 30th, 2009 with comments disabled.
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