Work stress check in

Work stress usually has a source. Tick what feels heavy and you get a clearer picture of what to raise, not a score.

Your details

The parts of work you said feel heavy

2 of 6

HSE work areas you ticked. A reflection, not a score or a diagnosis

Demandsfeels OK
Controlfeels heavy
Supportfeels OK
Relationshipsfeels OK
Rolefeels heavy
Changefeels OK
Hours worked last week45

Starting points: Control: ask for a say in how or when you do one task; Role: ask your manager to confirm what is and is not yours. HSE says employers should tackle these six areas at the source, so this is something to raise, not just cope with.

The working

Control and role ticked, 45 hours

You ticked 2 of the 6 areas HSE uses: control and role. The starting points are asking for a say in how or when you do one task, and asking your manager to confirm what is and is not your job. 45 hours is under the 48 hour average limit.

The six areas

From HSE

Area	What it covers
Demands	workload, work patterns, environment
Control	how much say you have in the way you work
Support	encouragement and resources from managers and colleagues
Relationships	avoiding conflict and dealing with unacceptable behaviour
Role	understanding your role, with no conflicting roles
Change	how change is managed and communicated

What to do with it

Raise it, do not just cope

HSE says employers have a legal duty to assess the risk of work related stress and act on it, and these six areas are where they should look. Taking your ticks to a one to one, HR, occupational health or a union rep turns a vague feeling into something specific that can change.

Read with care

What this cannot tell you

Score your stressIt lists what you ticked; it does not measure how stressed you are.
Diagnose anxiety or burnoutIf you feel overwhelmed, talk to your GP.
Give legal adviceAcas has free, impartial advice on work problems.

Questions

Common questions

What are the HSE Management Standards?

Six areas of work design that, if not properly managed, are linked with poor health and wellbeing: demands, control, support, relationships, role and change.

Can my employer make me work more than 48 hours?

Not on average, unless you choose to opt out in writing. You can cancel an opt out, usually with 7 days' notice.

Who can I talk to about stress at work?

Your manager, HR, occupational health or a union rep. Acas has a free helpline for workplace questions, and your GP can help if it is affecting your health.

Is stress a mental illness?

No, but long periods of stress can lead to anxiety or depression, so it is worth acting early.

Sources

Last checked 21 October 2026. Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we will fix it.

If work is getting to you

Talk to your manager, HR, an occupational health service or a union rep if you have one. If stress is affecting your sleep, mood or health, see your GP. Your GP can help, or you can refer yourself to NHS Talking Therapies. Samaritans on 116 123 are free, day or night, you can text SHOUT to 85258, and for urgent help call NHS 111 and choose option 2. Call 999 if you or someone else is in danger right now.