Bosses warned of stress 'time bomb'

FIRMS do not know how to deal with their stressed-out workforce and are sitting on a "ticking time bomb", according to new research.

Just over half of human resources (HR) managers know what the company is legally required to do when managing stress, figures published by law firm Eversheds revealed.

A heavy workload was found to be the most common cause of stress (57%), followed by outside influences (20%), lack of training (10%) and bullying (6%).

Yet only 20% of companies have a stress policy in place in spite of the increasing trend of stress-related cases going to court, the poll found.

Serious implications

Paul Ball, employment lawyer and training specialist at Eversheds, said: "Employers are sitting on a ticking time bomb if they don't consider the serious implications stress can have on their business now."

He added: "A heavy workload, whatever the level of staff, is by far the most common cause of stress. This either means that companies are overloading their staff, or employees are afraid to speak up when they cannot manage their workload.

"Either way, it makes for a tense workplace."

Stress affects people in many ways and those firms which assume it is only those in high-powered positions who are affected are sorely mistaken, he added.

Source: Manchester on line 09.09.04