Since 1992, April has been designated as Stress Awareness Month and the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is using the initiative to remind organizations of their legal duty to manage workplace stress.
The HSE says that work-related stress is one of the leading causes of ill health at work. In 2024/25, nearly one million UK workers reported stress, depression, or anxiety related to their jobs. The impact is significant, including 22.1 million lost working days in the UK.
The HSE states that employers are legally obligated to manage work-related stress. It should be treated like any other workplace hazard, taking the following actions:
- Assess risks: identify stressors and their impact on your workforce.
- Identify vulnerable workers: recognise employees at higher risk, such as those facing heavy workloads or significant change.
- Reduce or eliminate risks: take practical steps to reduce stress where possible.
- Manage stress proactively: stress management must be embedded in your workplace culture, not just addressed reactively.
Failure to manage stress risks may result in enforcement action, warns the HSE.
