Tackling Workplace Stress: Five Steps in Five Weeks
- Ray Palmer
- Apr 1
- 2 min read
April marks Stress Awareness Month, a reminder that stress is more than just a word we throw around meaninglessly. Stress is one of the leading causes of work-related ill health in the UK. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), over 875,000 workers suffered from work-related stress, depression, or anxiety in 2022/23. That’s a staggering figure and one that employers can no longer afford to ignore.
As part of its Working Minds campaign, the HSE is encouraging employers to act with five simple steps to support better mental health in the workplace. At Ranmoor Health and Safety, we’re here to help you understand what those steps are and how to implement them.
The Five Steps to Tackling Workplace Stress
1. Reach Out
Open conversations about stress and mental health with your employees. Encourage staff to talk about how they’re feeling and reassure them that it’s OK not to be OK.
2. Recognise the Signs
Learn to spot the early warning signs of stress, such as changes in behaviour, dips in performance, or increased absence.
3. Respond
Take concerns seriously and act on them quickly. Your response could make all the difference in preventing a minor issue from becoming a major one.
4. Reflect
Review how your organisation supports mental well-being. Are your risk assessments up to date? Do your managers have the right tools to support their teams?
5. Make it Routine
Stress prevention isn’t an once a year initiative it needs to be part of everyday operations.
Why This Matters
Stress doesn’t just impact individual employees it affects productivity, morale, and overall business performance. Under UK law, employers have a legal duty to assess and act on risks to employee wellbeing, including work-related stress. Failing to do so can have serious consequences.
Take Action with Our Online Training
At Ranmoor, we offer practical, accessible training courses that support your efforts to build a healthier, more resilient workplace:
🧠 Stress Management Training for Employees
Help staff understand stress, recognise their own triggers, and adopt positive coping strategies.
👩💼 Stress Management for Managers
Train your leaders to identify early signs of stress in others and to respond confidently and supportively.
📋 Workplace Mental Health Awareness
A broader course that includes the impact of mental health conditions, how to start conversations, and where to get further help.
Stress is a health and safety issue and it’s time we treated it like one. By acting during Stress Awareness Month (and beyond), you can improve your workplace culture, protect your team’s wellbeing, and stay legally compliant.
Need support with mental health risk assessments or policy reviews?
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