Project OSCAR

17.1 million days were lost due to work-related stress in 2023. [1] Almost half of all cases of work-related ill-health in the UK were caused by stress.

Work-related stress is strongly linked to poor mental health outcomes, [2] and can lead to serious mood disorders, burnout, and suicide. [3,4,5,6] Work-related stress has significant negative consequences for employers contributing to increased absenteeism and presenteeism, reduced performance, lost productivity, job turnover and early retirement. [7,8,9,10]

Despite strong, consistent evidence linking working conditions and psychosocial stressors to outcomes of work stress, [11,12,13] the most recent CIPD health and wellbeing report [14] shows that only 40% of the 726 organisations surveyed are taking steps to identify causes of stress.

The Health and Safety Executive have commissioned Affinity Health at Work, the Institute of Employment Studies, the Institute of Occupational Medicine, and the Society of Occupational Medicine to lead the Occupational Stress Consultation and Research Programme. This project aims to provide HSE with the evidence base on which to make policy decisions and underpin guidance on the practical actions that employers can take to prevent and mitigate work-related stress relative to three research areas of interest set out below

There is extensive expertise among our research, policy and practitioner communities. We will be conducting consultations, evidence reviews, interviews and focus groups as part of this project and would value your input.

If you would like to be kept up to date on our progress, findings, and/or contribute your insights and research, please register your interest here and we will be in touch.

If you have any questions about the project, please contact oscar@affinityhealthatwork.com.