📚 Guide by Safety Mom · Allstar Enviro Safety — The Workplace Stress is an online workplace safety course delivered by Safety Mom · Allstar Enviro Safety, Calgary’s Energy Safety Canada Authorized Training Provider. Self-paced, mobile-friendly, same-day certificate upon exam completion. Available across Canada.
🔗 Related Safety Mom courses & guides: H2S Alive Calgary · Standard First Aid Calgary · Oil Sands Safety Certs · Instructor: Arliss Levine, CRSP, CHSC
WORKPLACE STRESS TRAINING COURSE OVERVIEW
In our fast-paced world, we’re always encountering stressful situations, many of which occur at work. Yet stress and its effects on our ability to do our jobs are often overlooked.
This online Workplace Stress course uses a powerful combination of audio, full-motion video, text, and colourful graphics to help workers identify potentially stressful situations and learn how to cope with them. The course is divided into topic-based lessons so information is easily understood and retained.
WORKPLACE STRESS TRAINING ONLINE COURSE TOPICS
- Situations causing stress
- Positive versus negative stress
- Recognizing symptoms of stress
- Effects of stress on the mind and body
- Eliminating stress factors
- Stress-relieving exercises
- And more!
WORKPLACE STRESS ONLINE COURSE DURATION
Approximately 35 minutes
WORKPLACE STRESS TESTING
The testing in this online Workplace Stress course reinforces the information presented. To receive a certificate of completion, a mark of 80% must be achieved. Participants can repeat the course twice if the pass mark is not achieved.
WORKPLACE STRESS TRAINING CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION
Upon successful completion of this online course, a certificate of completion will be available to download and print.
WORKPLACE STRESS ONLINE COURSE PREVIEW
Few Questions & Answers
What is Stress in the Workplace?
Stress in the workplace refers to the physical and emotional responses that occur when the job demands do not match the worker’s capabilities, resources, or needs. This stress can affect employees’ mental and physical health and work efficiency.
What are the Main Stressors in the Workplace?
The main stressors in the workplace typically include:
- High Workload: Excessive work pressure and tight deadlines.
- Poor Work Environment: Inadequate working conditions, such as noise or ergonomically unsound workstations.
- Role Conflict: Unclear job responsibilities or conflicting demands.
- Lack of Support: Inadequate support from colleagues and management.
- Job Security Concerns: Fear of job loss or lack of career advancement opportunities.
What are the Causes of Stress in the Workplace?
Causes of workplace stress encompass a variety of factors:
- Organizational Change: Frequent changes in the workplace can lead to uncertainty and lack of control.
- Management Style: Poor communication and lack of employee involvement in decision-making can lead to feelings of undervaluation.
- Work-Life Balance: Difficulty in managing job and personal life responsibilities effectively.
- Relationships at Work: Poor relationships with coworkers or supervisors, including harassment or discrimination.
How Do You Overcome Stress in the Workplace?
Overcoming stress in the workplace involves both individual and organizational strategies:
- Effective Communication: Foster an environment where employees feel comfortable discussing their stresses and suggestions with management.
- Time Management: Encourage proper time management techniques to help employees handle workload and deadlines more effectively.
- Support Systems: Provide access to mental health resources and stress management training.
- Healthy Work Environment: Ensure the physical workplace is comfortable and ergonomically designed.
- Work-Life Balance: Support flexible work schedules or telecommuting where possible to help employees balance their personal and professional lives.
Implementing these strategies can help reduce stress levels at work, leading to a healthier, more productive workforce.
How to cope with workplace stress?
Coping with workplace stress effectively involves a combination of personal strategies and organizational support. Here are some practical ways to manage and reduce stress in the workplace:
Personal Strategies
- Identify Stressors: Keep a journal for a week or two to identify which situations create the most stress and how you respond to them. Knowing what triggers your stress can help you find specific solutions.
- Develop Healthy Responses: Instead of attempting to combat stress with fast food or alcohol, try to make healthy choices when you feel the tension rise. Exercise is a great stress-buster. Yoga can be an excellent choice, but any form of physical activity is beneficial. Also, make sure you get enough sleep and engage in hobbies that you enjoy outside of work.
- Establish Boundaries: In today’s digital world, it’s easy to feel pressure to be available 24 hours a day. Establish some work-life boundaries for yourself. That might mean making a rule not to check email from home in the evening or not answering the phone during dinner.
- Take Time to Recharge: To avoid the negative effects of chronic stress and burnout, we need time to replenish and return to our pre-stress level of functioning. This recovery process requires “switching off” from work by having periods when you are neither engaging in work-related activities nor thinking about work.
- Learn Relaxation Techniques: Techniques such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, and mindfulness (a state in which you actively observe present experiences and thoughts without judging them) can help melt away stress.
Organizational Strategies
- Talk to Your Supervisor: The purpose of an employee wellness program is to provide support. Part of your job description includes managing your stress. Your supervisor’s job is to help you do that job well. Have an open conversation with your supervisor to find ways to manage your stressors.
- Seek Support: Accepting help from trusted friends and family members can improve your ability to manage stress. Your employer may also have stress management resources available through an employee assistance program (EAP), including online information, available counselling, and referral to mental health professionals, if needed.
- Stay Organized: Planning to stay organized can help alleviate stress at work. Keeping a clear desk, setting priorities with a to-do list, and breaking projects into manageable pieces can help you focus and reduce anxiety.
Table of Contents
Additional Safety Knowledge
Alberta OHS Requirements for Psychological Workplace Safety
Since 2018, Alberta has required employers to address workplace violence, harassment, and psychological hazards as part of their overall occupational health and safety program. Employers must develop policies, procedures, and training addressing bullying, harassment, workplace violence, and threats. Workers have the right to refuse work they reasonably believe would expose them to violence or harassment.
The Business Case for Workplace Wellness
- Untreated workplace stress costs Canadian employers an estimated $16–$50 billion annually in lost productivity, absenteeism, and turnover.
- Workplaces with strong psychological health programs report 25–40% lower turnover in high-demand industries.
- The National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace (CAN/CSA-Z1003) provides a voluntary framework used by leading Canadian employers.
- Mental Health Commission of Canada research shows every $1 invested in workplace mental health returns $1.60–$4.20 in productivity gains.
Supervisor Responsibilities
Alberta OHS Section 6 places specific responsibilities on supervisors: take all reasonable steps to protect workers under their supervision, ensure workers use required PPE, comply with the OHS Act and Code, and cooperate with joint health and safety committees. Supervisors are personally liable for OHS violations occurring under their supervision. Training in supervisory duties, hazard identification, incident investigation, and workplace investigations is essential.
Workplace Stress — Building a Positive Workplace
Practical elements of a healthy workplace culture include clear communication channels, respectful conflict resolution, recognition programs, workload management, psychological safety (workers can raise concerns without fear of reprisal), and inclusive practices. Alberta’s duty-to-accommodate under the Human Rights Act extends to mental health disabilities and requires employers to accommodate to the point of undue hardship.
Content reviewed by Arliss Levine, CRSP, CHSC — lead safety instructor at Safety Mom · Allstar Enviro Safety Calgary, an Energy Safety Canada Authorized Training Provider.
