Psychological stress can be defined as an emotional state that people experience in situations where they perceive an imbalance between the demands placed on them and their ability to meet these demands. In this context it is important to note that psychologists point out that difficult job requirements can be perceived as positive or negative. For example, frequently changing work priorities can be perceived by some people as positive challenges and by others as serious threats to their well-being. In the context of this document, work-related stress is discussed in terms of its potential impact on occupational safety and health. If work-related stress is not recognised, acknowledged and managed appropriately, it can lead to serious illnesses ranging from heart disease to mental disorders, to productivity decreases and to substantial rehabilitation costs.
Researchers agree that both the job and the person play a role in situations of work-related stress.
Therefore, when analysing work-related stress, it is important to obtain an objective understanding of both the demands of the job and the vulnerability of the person. The demands of the job include factors such as the organisational climate, human resource management practices and relationships between the employee, his or her supervisor and colleagues. Ideally, people should be aware of their stress levels and communicate stressful situations to their employer before stress develops into a problem. For this to happen, employers need to ensure that the organisational culture is one in which employees can comfortably talk about work-related stress without there being a stigma attached to it. Both the job and the person play a role in situations of work-related stress.