Effective Strategies for Managing Workplace Stress: A Guide for Leaders

February 20, 2025

According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), workplace stress is a harmful physical and emotional response that arises when job demands exceed an employee’s control over meeting them. It can result from a single event, a heavy workload, shiftwork, employee conflicts, and more. While some stress can be beneficial—serving as motivation to tackle challenges—negative stress occurs when individuals feel overwhelmed by demands they believe exceed their ability to cope.

Common symptoms of workplace stress include headaches, fatigue, insomnia, digestive issues, and irritability. Fortunately, employers can implement various strategies to help reduce stress in the workplace. Consider the following approaches:

When possible, involve employees in decision-making processes that impact their work environment.
Provide manageable deadlines and hours of work.
Clearly define job expectations to avoid confusion and uncertainty.
Regularly assess staff for signs of stress and address concerns proactively.
Encourage managers to have an understanding attitude with their team members.
If workplace noise is excessive, implement control measures to minimize disruptions for employees.
Redesign workstations to reduce strenuous movements that may lead to physical strain.
Consider implementing a Comprehensive Workplace Health and Safety (CWHS) Program, a coordinated set of management strategies developed by employers in conjunction with employees, to provide a support system to improve your work environment.

Workplace changes can greatly affect the overall environment and in turn, benefit employees and improve productivity. The causes of workplace stress can vary from place to place, so the strategies must also vary in order to reduce or prevent it.

SWANA’s upcoming Safety First issue on February 23 will provide additional information on workplace stress to support employees.

Source: CCOHS