A beginner’s guide to stress risk assessments (FREE GUIDE)

Work-related stress is one of the most significant health and safety challenges facing UK employers today. Stress, depression or anxiety accounted for 46 % of all work-related ill health cases in 2023/24, resulting in an estimated 16.4 million working days lost over the same period, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). As an employer, you have a legal duty to identify, assess, and manage the causes of stress in the workplace.

This free guide has been created by Citation’s Health & Safety experts to give you a clear, practical understanding of how to recognise stress risks, meet your legal responsibilities, and take meaningful action to protect your people.

In your FREE guide, you’ll learn:

• What is a stress risk assessment, and why it’s essential for every workplace
• Your legal responsibilities when carrying out a stress risk assessment at work
• How the HSE’s six Management Standards help structure a workplace stress risk assessment
• Who’s most at risk of work-related stress, and how to spot the warning signs early
• Practical ways to support employees dealing with stress
• How to document and review your findings, with a clear workplace stress risk assessment example

What is a risk assessment?

A stress risk assessment is a structured process that helps employers identify factors in the workplace that could cause stress, determine who may be affected, and put control measures in place to reduce or remove those risks.

Just like other Health & Safety assessments, a stress risk assessment at work isn’t about eliminating all pressure — some pressure can be positive. Instead, it focuses on preventing excessive or poorly managed demands that may lead to harmful levels of stress.

Your legal responsibilities as an employer

Employers in the UK have a legal duty to protect employees from stress-related ill health. This responsibility is set out in several pieces of legislation, including the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

The HSE’s six Management Standards

The HSE has developed six Management Standards to help employers identify and manage the main sources of work-related stress:

• Demands — Workloads, deadlines, work patterns and working environment.

• Control — How much influence employees have over how they do their work.

• Support — Resources, encouragement, and support from managers and colleagues.

• Relationships — Promoting positive working relationships and addressing conflict.

• Role — Making sure employees understand their role and responsibilities.
• Change — How organisational change is planned, communicated, and managed.

Our downloadable guide explains how to use these standards to carry out a thorough workplace stress risk assessment, helping you identify problem areas and prioritise action.

Who’s most at risk of work-related stress?

Stress affects people differently, but it often arises when people feel overwhelmed by the pressure they face. This is why prevention is such a key part of a stress risk assessment.

The guide explores common signs of work-related stress, including changes in behaviours, reduced motivation and mood swings. Recognising these early warning signs allows employers to intervene sooner and reduce the risk of long-term harm.

How to help employees with work-related stress

Supporting employees with stress requires a thoughtful and individualised approach. A robust stress risk assessment gives you a framework to do this effectively.

This guide outlines practical steps employers can take, such as:

• Referring back to an up-to-date workplace stress risk assessment
• Making sure managers are trained to spot and discuss signs of stress
• Making temporary adjustments to roles, hours, or workloads
• Supporting phased returns to work after stress-related absence
• Reviewing and updating control measures following return-to-work discussions

Workplace stress, your duty of care

Completing a stress risk assessment is a legal requirement, but it also brings clear business benefits. Effective assessments can help to:

• Improve overall workplace safety
• Reduce sickness absence
• Boost productivity and engagement
• Reduce workplace burnout
• Increase employee retention

Download your FREE stress risk assessment PDF

If you’re unsure where to start, this guide walks you through everything step by step. Created by Citation’s Health & Safety consultants, it provides clear explanations and practical advice you can apply in your own organisation.

To get unlimited lifetime access to this stress risk assessment PDF, simply fill in the form on this page and download your free copy today. 

You can also explore our full range of Health & Safety services or browse our expert blogs for more guidance on managing stress in the workplace.