Work related stress statistics

HSE stress figures for 2018/19

Figures released by the Health & Safety Executive indicate a year on year increase in the total number of reports of work related stress for 2018/19.  The numbers show that cases reported are at an 18 year high.

The statistics demonstrate that stress continues to be a significant cause of workplace ill-health in Great Britain, with 602,000 workers suffering from work-related stress, depression or anxiety, and 12.8 million working days lost as a result. This is reported to have cost the UK economy £34.9 billion last year.

As well as the impact on workers quality of life, work-related stress represents a substantial cost to employers, employees and the UK economy.

Factors such as workload, lack of support, violence, threats or bullying and changes at work are believed to be the main causes of work-related stress, depression or anxiety, based on previous Labour Force Survey data.

All employers have a legal duty to protect their employees from work-related stress, by assessing the risk and taking the necessary action to remove or tackle it.

Everyone in the workplace should work together to tackle the causes of work-related injury and ill-health, and where workers may need time off due to stress-related illness, effective rehabilitation policies should be included as part of a wider strategy on employee health, safety and wellbeing.

Richard Jones, Head of Policy and Regulatory Engagement at IOSH, said: “Forward-looking organisations are already taking positive action on mental health at work and seeing the many benefits. So, it’s disappointing and concerning to see such high numbers of work-related stress, depression and anxiety cases. Employers should review their prevention and training strategies and ensure they’re providing sufficient support for their workers, particularly in these uncertain economic times.”

Source - HSM matters