Scottish employers urged to tackle stress

Businesses in Scotland are being urged by the government to tackle stress in the workplace as part of a new campaign focussing on the work-life balance.

Steps for Stress has offered employers and HR teams with a number of steps they can take to help people recognise the problem and prevent it from spiralling.

A survey conducted as part of the campaign revealed that three-quarters of respondents claim to have experienced stress, but only one in four of these people felt happy to discuss it.

Public health minister Shona Robison said: "Stress can affect everyone. We all have busy lives today, juggling work and family commitments, but by knowing how to spot the signs we can help ourselves feel better."

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And director of RCN Scotland Theresa Fyffe said that stress was currently a very relevant issue due to the impact of the economic downturn, along with Christmas approaching, putting pressure on many individuals.

However, David Wainwright, from the University of Bath, recently told the Royal Society of Medicine that stress in the workplace was largely caused by employees convincing themselves they are unable to cope with their employment commitments, the Metro reported.