What are the causes of workplace stress?

Some issues that might contribute to stress at work include:¹⁰

• Factors specific to the job, such as poor physical conditions, safety issues, unrealistic deadlines, long hours, or an unmanageable workload
• Factors specific to the individual's role in the organisation, such as confusion about responsibilities, poor job-person fit, poor time management, difficulties in managing separate or conflicting roles (e.g., that of supervisor and colleague) or uncertainty about the future of the organisation.
• Career development issues, such as being passed over for a promotion, feeling under-utilised, or perceiving a lack of job security.
• Relationship issues, such as poor support from supervisors, conflict with co-workers, harassment, discrimination or bullying.
• Problems with organisational structure / climate, such as low levels of perceived control over work tasks, perceptions of micro-management, lack of consultation on important issues, office politics, budget problems, pressure to complete work tasks or check emails outside of normal work hours.
• External stressors, such as a long commute to work, lack of sleep, grief/loss, separation/divorce, mental/physical illness or caring responsibilities. Exposure to constant disaster-related media may also be cause for stress such as the COVID-19 pandemic which has become a longer-term public health issue with far reaching mental health impacts.