Workplace
stress self-assessment
Are
you stressed by your job?
There's a difference between
stress and pressure. We all experience pressure daily and need it to motivate
us. But too much can lead to damaging stress.
Take this test to find out if
you're experiencing too much pressure at work.
QUESTIONS
The words in italics are things you
might want to consider talking to your boss, supervisor, trade
union or HR department about and appear in the tool as a checklist on the
results page.
1.How
do you manage your time at work?
a) My time is fairly flexible and I can have a
say in deciding how I work and when to take a break (0 points)
b) I have some say over the way I work but
would like more (1 points)
c)
I don't have very much control over how I work (2 points)
Any issues that are particularly
bothering you in your day-to-day work
2. When something is going to change at
work, what happens?
a)
I have plenty of opportunity to speak to my boss about any changes at work (0 points)
b)
We're always asked
about possible changes at work
before they
happen but don't have much involvement
in how decisions are made (1 point)
c) We aren't
told about changes and I'd find it hard to speak to my boss (2 points)
How and when your boss speaks to you
about changes at work
More about change
People who feel valued and
involved in decision-making play a big part in a high-performing workplace.
Empowering
individuals at work, giving them the right skills, and getting them involved in
making decisions shows that their health, safety and wellbeing are being taken
seriously.
People will also raise
concerns and offer solutions more often.
3. How do you get on with your boss or
supervisor?
a) I can rely on them to help me out,
encourage me and provide support (0 points)
b)
I can talk to them about something that has upset or annoyed me at work but
that's about it (1 points)
How much support you are given on a
day-to-day basis
c)
I don't get on with them very well and don't feel very supported (2 points)
How much support you are given on a
day-to-day basis
Talking to your boss
Open communication develops a
positive culture and reduces accidents and ill-health. It also improves overall
efficiency and productivity. The law states that employers must consult
employees regularly.
If you find it difficult to
talk to your boss, talk to your trade union representative or employee
representative who can provide advice on a range of work-related topics.
Alternatively, you can speak to your HR department.
4.
How do you get on with the people you work with?
a) My colleagues will help me and are always
willing to listen to any work-related problems (0 points)
b)
I don't think my colleagues offer me much support (1 points)
Ways to encourage a positive workplace
where people are supported by each other as well as line managers
c)
I get on with them okay but wouldn't discuss any problems with them (2 points)
Ways to encourage a positive workplace
where people are supported by each other as well as line managers
5. Are any of the following causing you
problems? (You can pick more than one)
a)People harassing you with unkind words or behaviour at work (2 points)
Any harassment you`re experiencing at
work - it`s unacceptable
b)
Friction or arguments with your work colleagues (1 points)
Any friction at work that might lead
to problems
c)
Bullying from one or more work colleagues (2 points)
Any bullying at work you`re
experiencing
d)
Difficulties or strained relationships with someone at work (1 points)
Any relationships at work that are difficult
e)
None of these (0 points)
More about bullying
Bullying can make working
life miserable. You can lose all faith in yourself, start to feel ill and
depressed, and find it hard to motivate yourself to work. It’s not always due
to people's tribal instincts, or someone picking on the weak. Sometimes a
person's strengths in the workplace can make the bully feel threatened, and
that kicks off their behaviour.
Never ignore it. Talk to your
colleagues, talk to your boss, talk to your family and, above all, talk to the
experts. If you belong to a trade union, talk to them. They have
well-established tactics for helping you bring the joy back into your working
day.
6. Which of the following best describes
how you feel about your role at work?
a) I am clear about what is expected of me at
work and know how to go about getting my job done (0 points)
b)
I am clear what my duties and responsibilities are but sometimes don't manage
to get everything finished (1 point)
Your concerns about having too much to
do
c)
I am unclear what my role is (2 points)
Your responsibilities, so you can
better understand your role
More about roles
Employees should have a
clearly defined role and be encouraged to talk to their line manager or boss if
they are not clear about priorities or the nature of their job.
This means you should be
clear about what your job entails, what is expected of you and what you can
expect from your employer.
Team meetings can help to
clarify your role and discuss any possible role conflict.
7. Do
you worry about any of the following? You can pick more than one.
a)Different
people at work demand things from me that are hard to combine (1 point)
Increasing demands on your time from
more than one person
b)
I have unachievable deadlines and I have to neglect some tasks because I have
too much to do (1 point)
Unachievable deadlines that are
causing problems
c)
I have to work very intensively and find it difficult to take sufficient breaks
(1 points)
Finding it hard to take vital breaks
d)
I am pressured to work long hours (1 point)
Improving your working hours, which
are long
e)
None of these (0 points)
More about demands
It's important that your line
manager monitors workloads to ensure people are not overloaded and there are sufficient resources to do the work
allocated.
People should be encouraged
to have a healthy work-life balance and take their annual leave and meal
breaks.
There should also be good
communication about unplanned tight deadlines or any exceptional need to work
long hours.
RESULTS
0-3 points
We all experience pressure on
a daily basis and your responses today suggest that with the help of your
employer you're managing that pressure well.
Any issues that may need
addressing will appear below.
Remember, if you do start to face
stressful problems at work, it’s always good to speak to your boss or
supervisor to stop them becoming a bigger problem and improve the workplace for
everyone.
3-9 points
We all experience pressure on
a daily basis but your responses today suggest that some areas of your work
could be improved to avoid any unnecessary stress.
Try to talk to your boss,
supervisor, trade union or HR department about the following: (see italics
under each question & response)
9-40 points
We all experience pressure on
a daily basis but your responses today suggest you may be experiencing more
than healthy pressure at work. To improve the situation before it gets worse,
it's important to speak to your boss, supervisor, trade union or HR department
about the following: (see italics under each question & response)
USEFUL LINKS
Understanding
workplace stress
Helping
you keep healthy at work
Subscribe to the Your
Health newsletter
Visit
the Health and Safety Executive
NHS Choices 2011