Stress from work can be caused by things such as high workload, low control over the work you do, dangerous work, or the environment, such as poor lighting or bad conditions. It can also be caused by social factors like bullying and harassment. These are called psychosocial risks. Stress often happens when work isn’t designed well, and workers are exposed to these risks.

Businesses need to identify, assess, and manage the risks in their workplace that can contribute to stress. This means knowing what those risks are and having practices in place to manage them.

Read about identifying and managing psychosocial risks at work.

About work-related stress

Stress is the negative physical, mental, and emotional reactions we feel when we cannot cope with the demands placed on us – this might be from too much work, the type of work, or the people around us at work. Work-related stress happens when there are things at, or about, work that pose risks to psychological and physical health through acute or chronic stress.

Stress is not an illness. It is something people experience from being exposed to risks at work.

There is often confusion between what someone finds challenging at work, or when they feel pressure, and stress. Feeling challenged at work is when you stretch and build skills, and when supported, can strengthen engagement and innovation. It’s okay to feel challenged – it can keep work interesting, provide a sense of accomplishment and support psychological needs like competence and achievement.  

Stress is when workers are asked to do more than they can. This could be because a worker is unable to manage the type or amount of work they are given, or because there aren’t enough people or resources to do the work. Stressful work can impair people’s functioning and can contribute to unsafe work. When work is not well designed it can result in burnout, high turnover and increased near misses.

How people are harmed by stress at work

Stress at work can cause a range of health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, anxiety and slowed recovery from physical injuries. If someone experiences a health condition already, stress can make it worse.

The effects of work-related stress can vary from person to person. Everyone experiences stress differently. In general, work-related stress is associated with:

• illness and disease, for example cardiovascular, respiratory and immune related
• low morale and engagement
• anxiety and low mood
• low productivity
• offensive behaviour, for example aggression, bullying and violence.

Managing the risk from stress at work

Identify the risks

Businesses should start by identifying the things that can cause stress at work.

Eliminate the risks

Then, eliminate the risks. Consider options for managing stress at the source. These could include:

• managing the impact of shift work with sufficient time for rest and recuperation
• considering options for allowing worker control over work flow or job tasks
• designing work to allocate demanding mental and physical work equitably
• avoiding work in low light or adverse conditions
• limiting and rotating high-stress tasks.

Using tools or engineering controls to prevent exposure, for example front of house partitions, automation of laborious or menial tasks.

Minimise the risks

Where this is not possible, consider how to minimise the risk. Here are some example measures to consider:

• Set achievable demands for your workers in relation to agreed hours of work.
• Support workers to have a level of control over their pace of work:
  • Involve workers in decisions that may impact their health and safety and have processes to enable workers to raise issues and concerns they might have.
  • Ensure managers and supervisors have the capability and knowledge to identify, understand and support workers who may be feeling stressed.
• Match workers’ skills and abilities to the work that needs to be done.
• Use people’s different skill sets and training to solve problems and innovate to manage challenging tasks.
• Provide workers with access to independent counselling services.
• Have agreed policies and procedures to prevent or resolve unacceptable behaviour.
• Engage and consult with workers before implementing change processes and ensure they genuinely can influence the decisions you make.

Choose controls that are effective, relevant to the work situation, and match the level of risk.

Worker involvement in health and safety 

Ensure workers know how to make suggestions, ask questions, or raise concerns.

Always ask your workers for input on identifying health and safety risks and how to eliminate or minimise them. People are more likely to take responsibility and make good decisions when they have been involved in the conversation. Workers can help spot issues, and suggest practical, cost-effective solutions.

Always train your workers on what the key risks are and how to keep healthy and safe.

Find out more about getting your workers involved

Where to go for more information

Mental health and wellbeing support | Health New Zealand(external link)
Resources to help workers and businesses stay healthy and well.

Wellbeing at work | Depression.org.nz(external link)
Resources for support at work, unemployment, workplace culture, and burnout.

Stress and mental health at work | Health and Safety Executive (HSE) UK(external link)
Help for employees on stress at work.

Work-related stress | WorkSafe Victoria(external link)
Resources to help businesses and workers.