Work-Related Stress Can Develop When Demands Exceed Someone’s Ability or Resources to Cope
Work-related stress can develop when the pressures and demands of a job feel greater than the time, control, resources or support available to manage them.
It is not simply about being “busy.” People can manage demanding roles when they have the right resources, autonomy, communication, recovery time and support around them.
Common Workplace Stressors Can Include
• Excessive or constantly changing workloads
• Unrealistic deadlines or expectations
• Lack of control over how work is completed
• Unclear roles or responsibilities
• Poor communication
• Difficult workplace relationships or conflict
• Bullying, discrimination or exclusion
• Organisational change or uncertainty
• Inadequate staffing, equipment or resources
• Lack of management support
• Long working hours without sufficient recovery
What Might Someone Experience?
Prolonged workplace stress can affect both physical and emotional wellbeing.
Someone may experience:
Exhaustion • headaches • muscle tension • disturbed sleep • digestive problems • irritability • anxiety • low mood • difficulty concentrating • reduced confidence • forgetfulness • feeling overwhelmed or emotionally drained
What Might This Look Like at Work?
You might notice someone becoming quieter or more withdrawn, struggling to meet deadlines, making more mistakes, finding decisions harder, working increasingly long hours or appearing less engaged.
Sometimes people respond in the opposite way and work even harder, skip breaks, take work home and continually push themselves to keep up.
This can make workplace stress difficult to recognise.
It Is Not Always About Individual Resilience
When workplace demands are persistently unreasonable, simply telling someone to become more resilient, organised or positive does not address the underlying problem.
Support may need to include changes to the work itself and the environment around the employee.
What Can Help?
Clear expectations • realistic workloads • appropriate staffing • regular breaks • greater autonomy • supportive management • open communication • flexible working • clear priorities • realistic deadlines • workplace adjustments and opportunities for recovery
Regular conversations can also help identify difficulties before someone reaches exhaustion or burnout.
Remember
Workplace stress should not automatically be viewed as an individual failing.
Sometimes the most effective question is not:
“How can this person cope better?”
but:
“What can we change about the demands, environment or support around them?”
Creating healthier workplaces means considering both the needs of the individual and the conditions in which they are being asked to work.
Space to Breathe
