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Stress

Everyone is under some degree of pressure, both at home and at work. Such pressure is not necessarily harmful, provided it is kept to levels that enable individuals to cope with it. Stress is the term used to describe what occurs when pressures become unmanageable.

Being unable to balance the conflicting demands of home and work life can cause stress. Having time outside work to do things that you enjoy is an important part of coping with work pressures.

If long working hours limit your leisure time you are less likely to be able to deal with otherwise manageable pressures. Stress is likely to become even worse if your employer does not give you the facility to take time off for serious personal crises.

Excess pressure, or stress, can cause a variety of problems: headaches, anxiety, muscle tensions, increased pulse rates, increased smoking and/or drinking, are just a few.

If stress persists over longer periods, more significant ill-health can result, for example:

  • High blood pressure, leading to increased risks of stroke or heart attack;
  • Digestive disorders – ulcers, colitis etc
  • Mental health difficulties – anxiety disorder, depression.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has produced a series of draft management standards to helping employers reduce stress for their workers.

Among these standards are several that link directly to getting the work/life balance right.

According to the HSE, employers who want to control stress at work should be seeking to achieve a situation where:

  • The organisation provides employees (including managers) with adequate and achievable demands at work. (Demands standard)
  • Employees are provided with mechanisms which enable them to raise concerns about …. Working patterns (e.g. shift work systems, uncertain hours etc) and necessary appropriate action is taken (Demands standard)
  • Employees are able to exert a degree of control over when breaks can be taken. (Control standard)
  • The organisation has systems to help employees with work-related or home-related issues and employees are aware of these. (Support standard)

‘Quality not quantity’

Stop focusing on the hours you work and start focusing on the quality of work produced.

Go home on time

Don’t stagger home after a long day at work too tired to enjoy your leisure time. Finish work early, or at least on time, once a week and enjoy the evening properly.

Management your work time

Don’t let work time manage you. Make the best use of time at work and recognise your need for time away from work. Ask your employer for time management training to help you achieve a better balance.

Learn to say ‘no’

When your workload is getting out of control, politely but firmly refuse additional work. Tell your line manager that you feel you are overloaded and need assistance. Remember to speak to your local PCS rep. as well about the difficulties you are having.

Did you know?

  • 60% of all work absences are stress related
  • Stress costs the UK £8 billion a year
  • 13 million UK working days are lost to stress related illness each year
  • 69% of people say their work life is more stressful than 10 years ago

Take your annual leave

Too many workers do not use all of their annual leave allowance and end up losing it. Workers need this time away from the workplace to recharge their batteries.

If you are working long hours to build up flexible working hours credits, but not taking all of your annual leave allowance, think about rebalancing your work time.

Don’t skimp on lunch breaks

Take long enough to get away from the workplace. You’ll feel better for it. A recent PCS survey found that one in five workers either skipped lunch altogether, or ate quickly at the desk every day.

Take breaks away from your work station

This is especially important if you use a computer as studies have shown regular breaks can help you get away from the static postures associated with VDU work.

Your employer should either ensure you have a mix of work, allowing natural changes of posture, or should allow you to take short breaks.

Use the new family friendly rights

These rights will help you cope with demands from home and allow you to avoid harmful stress caused by home/work conflicts.

Other family friendly rights

Other family friendly rights include:

  • Adoption leave – is the right for one parent to take paid time off work when their new child is placed with them.
  • Flexible working – can be requested by parents of young and disabled children. A refusal could be challenged under sex discrimination law.
  • Maternity leave – allows a new mother to take a period of leave when she has a baby.
  • Parental leave – the right for parents of a young or adopted or disabled child to take a period of unpaid leave to care for the child.
  • Paternity leave – the right for a new father or partner of a new mother or adopter to take time off at the time of the birth or placement.
  • Time off for dependants – the right to take a reasonable period of time off (usually a few days) to deal with an emergency involving a dependant.

These are the statutory rights. Your employer may have agreed better contractual rights, so check with your PCS rep. or branch secretary.

Hard copies of this fact sheet are available from the PCS equality department,

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