Workplace stress management

Purpose

To promote employee wellbeing by identifying, preventing, and managing work-related stress, ensuring a safe and supportive work environment.

Scope

This SOP applies to all employees, contractors, and managers within the organization.

Responsibilities

  • Employees: Monitor their own stress levels, use support resources, and report excessive stress or workload concerns.
  • Supervisors/Managers: Recognize signs of stress in staff, provide reasonable workload management, and encourage use of wellbeing programs.
  • Human Resources (HR)/Health & Safety: Provide training, confidential support services, and maintain a safe workplace culture.

Procedure

A. Identifying Stress

  1. Employees and supervisors should look out for signs of stress, including:
    • Irritability, fatigue, low morale.
    • Declining work performance or concentration.
    • Physical symptoms (headaches, insomnia, muscle tension).
  2. Supervisors must conduct regular check-ins to identify early signs of stress.

B. Preventing Stress

  1. Employees and supervisors should look out for signs of stress, including:
    • Irritability, fatigue, low morale.
    • Declining work performance or concentration.
    • Physical symptoms (headaches, insomnia, muscle tension).
  2. Supervisors must conduct regular check-ins to identify early signs of stress.

C. Managing Stress

  1. Employees experiencing stress should:
    • Speak to their supervisor and/or Human Resources.
    • Use approved coping strategies such as mindfulness, exercise, or time management support.
  2. Supervisors must respond to stress concerns promptly, offering support or adjustments to duties if needed.

D. Emergency Situations

  1. If an employee shows severe stress, burnout, or risk of self-harm:
    • Ensure immediate safety.
    • Contact HR and, if necessary, emergency services.
    • Provide ongoing support after the incident.

Review and Monitoring

  • Human Resources will regularly review absence, turnover, and incident records to identify stress-related trends.
  • This SOP will be reviewed annually or following major incidents.