Conducting a Stress Audit

We have argued for an organizational approach to the management of stress, but also acknowledge that a successful stress management package will need to operate from more than one level. Indeed, a number of stress researchers have pointed out that stress control can be successful only if it is tackled at the level of the individual and the organization (DeFrank and Cooper, 1987; Hart, 1987). Therefore, We should operate at an organizational level to prevent or limit stress where this is a possible and reasonably practicable solution (Elkin and Rosch, 1990). We can work with individuals, teams or groups, to educate and train employees to cope more effectively with sources of stress that can not be removed from the job. However, we need to ensure that the weaknesses of this approach are overcome. We must also have in place strategies to deal with employees who ‘fall through the net’ to become victims of exposure to stress, since no organizational intervention is likely to be perfect or foolproof. Individuals are complex and unique and so they vary in their response to stress. Therefore, a stress management solution for one individual will not suit all employees or occupational groups.