Unsupported work related changes-effects on the employee

Case study- "Work-related stress in a 43 year old male local authority employee. Earlier this year all of his department were advised that they had to reapply for their posts, and he was retained but on a temporary contract in a different location. Surgery for keratoconus in 1992 left him sensitive to bright light and with difficulties driving at night. In his previous post the workstation had been adapted to meet his visual requirements and the location had meant he had little night driving in wintertime. Requests to his new line manager for occupational health input in view of his medical condition were declined. Over a period of a few weeks he developed sleeping difficulties and felt exhausted. He found it difficult to concentrate at work and was noted to be increasingly irritable at home. When initially seen he had a tachycardia and raised blood pressure. He was signed off work and on review after two weeks was feeling much better and his pulse and BP had returned to normal. After a further two weeks he was able to return to work with occupational health input. A constructive meeting with senior management took place and it was arranged for him to return to his original location and duties under new line management, with all adjustments to be undertaken and checked before his return. Job insecurity, insensitive management and low personal “control” are some of the factors involved in work related stress. A change in behaviour can often be the presenting symptom of stress. The abnormal physiological response associated with stress can be reversible on dealing with the background issues. He had always found his work to be enjoyable and is doing so once more."

Work -related stress-HSE stats and information

The extract below makes one think about the stress and stressors in the work place.One of the most difficult environments to work in is the education sector.I have witnessed many colleagues breaking down due to the overwhelming daily tasks and stressors that present itself with little or no support. "Work-related stress, depression or anxiety is defined as a harmful reaction people have to undue pressures and demands placed on them at work. The latest estimates from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) show: The total number of cases of work related stress, depression or anxiety in 2017/18 was 595,000, a prevalence rate of 1,800 per 100,000 workers. This was not statistically significantly different from the previous period. The rate of work related stress depression and anxiety was broadly flat but has shown signs of increasing in recent years. The number of new cases was 239,000, an incidence rate of 720 per 100,000 workers. The total number of working days lost due to this condition in 2017/18 was 15.4 million days. This equated to an average of 25.8 days lost per case. Working days lost per worker due to self reported work-related stress, depression or anxiety shows no clear long term trend. In 2017/18 stress, depression or anxiety accounted for 44% of all work-related ill health cases and 57% of all working days lost due to ill health. Stress, depression or anxiety is more prevalent in public service industries, such as education; health and social care; and public administration and defence. By occupation, professional occupations that are common across public service industries (such as healthcare workers; teaching professionals and public service professionals) show higher levels of stress as compared to all jobs. The main work factors cited by respondents as causing work related stress, depression or anxiety were workload pressures, including tight deadlines and too much responsibility and a lack of managerial support (2009/10-2011/12)"