How To Conduct An Effective Workplace Stress Risk Assessment

In the UK, stress, depression, and anxiety make up over half of all work-related ill health cases. In 2023, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reported that 875,000 workers suffered from work-related stress, depression, or anxiety, resulting in a staggering 17.1 million lost working days. The financial and human cost is clear: unmanaged stress can derail productivity, drive absenteeism, and erode workplace culture.

A proactive approach is vital, and that starts with a structured workplace stress risk assessment. This guide explores how to conduct a stress risk assessment effectively, aligning with UK health and safety regulations and promoting a resilient and well-supported workforce.

What Is A Workplace Stress Risk Assessment?

A workplace stress risk assessment identifies sources of stress in the workplace, evaluates their impact, and implements control measures to protect employee well-being. This ongoing commitment to improving workplace culture and mental health is not a one-off exercise.

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, employers have a legal duty to assess and manage health risks, including those related to stress.

Why It Matters

Workplace stress affects every layer of business operations. When unmanaged, it can:

• Increase sickness absence and staff turnover
• Reduce engagement, concentration, and output
• Contribute to physical illnesses such as heart disease or musculoskeletal issues
• Heighten the risk of accidents and errors
• Damage your organisation’s reputation.

Stress isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s usually a sign that workplace systems, processes, and/or cultures place unmanageable demands on staff. Employers can mitigate these risks and improve retention by boosting team performance.

Related Reading: An Introduction To Risk Assessments

Key Triggers Of Workplace Stress

The HSE’s Management Standards identify six core areas that contribute to workplace stress:

1. Demands: workload and the workplace environment
2. Control: how much say people have over their work
3. Support: encouragement, resources, and line management
4. Relationships: including conflict and unacceptable behaviour
5. Role: clarity around roles and responsibilities
6. Change: how organisational change is communicated and managed.

These areas can be assessed systematically as part of your stress risk assessment process.

Step-by-Step Guide To Conducting A Workplace Stress Risk Assessment

1. Prepare: Gain Management Buy-In and Define Scope

Before conducting the assessment, engage leadership teams and clarify your goals. Is the focus on a specific department, role, or recent period of change? Senior leadership must support the process, especially if findings require cultural or policy-level interventions.

Veriforce CHAS recommends involving health and safety teams early in the process to ensure compliance and well-being remain top priorities.

2. Identify the Stress Hazards

To identify stress, you need data that is quantitative and qualitative from a wide range of sources. You can gain insights by performing employee interviews and well-being questionnaires, as well as conducting focus groups to see how stress affects everyday tasks. You can also look at organisational data like sickness absence records, staff turnover rates, and performance metrics. Don’t forget exit interviews and formal complaints for an overall approach.

Finally, direct observations in the workplace should be conducted to spot workflow bottlenecks or signs of visibility-strained teams. A holistic approach ensures that no significant risks are overlooked and interventions are grounded in real-world evidence.

3. Evaluate the Risks

Once you’ve identified the potential stressors, assess the likelihood of the issue leading to stress-related illness. What is the severity of the potential harm? Is it just mental, or can it manifest physically as well? The goal is to prioritise the most significant risks for immediate action. 

Related Reading: Techniques To Spot And Address Business Risk

4. Implement Control Measures

You want to develop practical interventions to eliminate or reduce stress. These might include:

• Adjusting workloads or deadlines
• Improving line manager training in mental health awareness
• Clarifying roles and responsibilities
• Including flexible work arrangements
• Creating internal well-being champions
• Updating communication strategies for organisational change

As with physical hazards, the hierarchy of controls applies. You want to eliminate the hazard where possible or implement preventive systems if elimination isn’t feasible.

5. Record and Communicate Findings

Under UK law, you must document your stress risk assessment and actions if you have more than five employees. Even in smaller businesses, recording your findings demonstrates your commitment to compliance and employee well-being.

Transparency is key. Share findings (anonymously) and explain how risks will be managed moving forward. You want to build trust and reassurance with employees that their concerns are being taken seriously. 

6. Monitor and Review

A stress risk assessment isn’t a one-off task. Monitor the effectiveness of your interventions and adapt your approach based on feedback, incidents, or changes to the business environment. 

Schedule regular reviews and encourage ongoing reporting through well-being check-ins, digital surveys, or anonymous feedback boxes.

Legal Duties And HSE Guidance

Employers are legally obligated to manage stress. The HSE’s Management Standard provides a benchmark for identifying and controlling stress-related hazards. If you fail to comply, it may result in:

• Investigations and enforcement by the HSE
• Compensation claims from employees who are affected
• Reputational damage to the company
• Breaches of duty under employment and equity law.

You can reduce legal exposure by adopting the HSE’s structured approach and embedding risk assessments into your safety management system.

The Business Case of Tackling Stress

The cost of inaction is significant. According to Deloitte, poor mental health costs UK employers up to £51 billion annually (as of May 2024), a sharp rise from £45 billion in 2019.

The same report found that employers receive an average of £4.70 return for every £1 spent on mental health interventions. That’s a clear case for investing in workplace well-being, not just for compliance, but for commercial resilience.

Related Reading: What Are Employees’ Health And Safety Duties?

Benefits of managing Workplace Stress Proactively

• Boosted productivity and performance
• Fewer absences and lower staff turnover
• Improved employee engagement
• Better client outcomes and brand reputation
• Greater resilience in times of change.

How Veriforce CHAS Supports Workplace Risk Assessment

Veriforce CHAS is a leader in UK health and safety compliance, offering tailored solutions to help organisations identify, manage, and reduce workplace stress risks. If you’re a construction contractor, office-based business, or SME, our assessment tools and support services make compliance simple.

With Veriforce CHAS, You Can:

• Access expert-developed risk assessment templates
• Benchmark your health and safety maturity
• Embed mental health into your existing risk management frameworks
• Demonstrate compliance with SSIP and HSE standards
• Access pre-qualified contractors committed to workers’ well-being.

Integrating stress risk management into your safety systems aligns you with the broader goals of ESG reporting and creates a healthier workplace culture.

Building A Culture Of Resilience

A successful workplace stress risk assessment goes beyond ticking regulatory boxes. It creates the conditions for people to thrive. Businesses that take stress seriously are not only legally compliant, but they’re also more competitive, more compassionate, and more sustainable in the long run.

As one of the UK’s most trusted risk suppliers, Veriforce CHAS is here to support your journey. From refining your assessment process to boosting mental health across your supply chain, we provide the tools, templates, and insight to help you build a safer, stronger future.