Workplace Policies & Programs

Work Stress Prevention

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The workplace can be a strong contributor to mental wellbeing, giving people the opportunity to feel productive and achieve their potential. It can also be a stressful environment that contributes to mental health problems and illnesses, such as depression and anxiety.

With most adults spending more of their waking hours at work than anywhere else, and with many youth holding at least part-time jobs, addressing issues of stress at work is important.

What Employers can do to Prevent Work-Related Stress

Employers can reduce stressful working conditions through strategic direction, policies and supportive environments. It is not about assessing an individual employee’s mental health, rather it is about considering the impact of workplace processes, policies and interactions on the psychological health and safety of all employees. Solutions that address the organization and design of work itself, combined with helping employees address stressors directly, works best.

Prevent Stress

How Your Workplace can Help

Develop Supportive Environment

Workplace-Wide Approach and/or Policies

Some ways you can develop supportive environments for work stress prevention:

Promote your workplace Employee and Family Assistance Program so employees know where they can get help.
Use Healthy Minds @ Work for information on recognizing and understanding mental health issues at work and developing and implementing mental health promotion programs.

Some ways you can incorporate a workplace-wide approach and policies for work stress prevention:

Adopt the voluntary National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace. The Standard includes guidelines and tools to:
- Identify and eliminate hazards in the workplace that pose a risk of psychological harm to workers
- Assess and control the risks in the workplace associated with hazards that cannot be eliminated
- Implement structures and practices that support and promote psychological health and safety in the workplace
- Foster a culture that promotes psychological health and safety in the workplace
Provide training and support to managers and leaders in the workplace. View presentations and materials for facilitating discussion around a psychologically healthy and safe workplace
Use Guarding Minds @ Work resources to assess and take action on factors affecting your workplace psychological health and safety as well as evaluate the impact of your action plan.

Date modified

July 18, 2022