Occupational Stress definition

The physiological and physical effects of negative activity in the workplace as a result many factors including external events, internal events, job demands and colleague behaviour.

Stress differs from pressure but is often used interchangeably. Pressure refers to surmountable demands in the workplace and only turns to stress when the emotional, mental and physical demands of a given situation are greater than the individual’s coping skills.

Employers increasingly see their own role to play in mitigating and solving workplace stress as a means of increasing workplace engagement, happiness and ultimately productivity.