Managing Workplace Stress: Psychosocial Hazard Risk Profiles in Public and Private Sector Australia

Abstract

Abstract The present research examined the perceptions of Australian employees on dimensions of workplace stress. The sample included 664 male ( n = 234) and female ( n = 430) workers from the public ( n = 559) and private ( n = 105) sectors. Participants completed the Health and Safety Executive Indicator Tool as a measure of workplace stress. Results indicated that private sector employees rated their employers as being more effective in managing workplace stress, while employees in both sectors rated their employers as less effective in managing Job Content stressors than Job Context stressors. Compared with normative benchmarks, employees overall also reported risks of stress associated with Relationships and Role. Implications of these findings and suggestions for future research were discussed.