A number of reports and investigations, taken together, suggest that stress at work is responsible for around 6.5 million lost working days. It affects 1 in 5 of all workers (5 million in Britain). The concomitant cost to employers is put at around 370 million Pounds. As workplace stress is to be the theme for the European week for Health and Safety, commencing 14th October 2002, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Health Education Boards have started several initiatives to address the problem. This article looks at how to recognise stressful situations and considers what advice and help should be given to employees. It reports on recent landmark legal rulings that will determine how employers should manage stress at work in the future.
