First published on Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Last updated on Tuesday, March 31, 2026
According to a 2023 report by Statistics Canada, over 4.1 million people experience high levels of work related stress.
Every week, 500,000 Canadian workers miss work because of work related stress issues like burnout and anxiety.
And as an employer, you have a duty of care to protect your employees’ wellbeing. That's why we've created this guide to spotting the signs of stress early, and what how to manage them effectively.
Common signs of stress
The signs of stress are simpler to spot than you think. Stress often causes changes in behaviour in the workplace, like:
Increased lateness or absence
Drops in performance or productivity
Changes in mood and behaviour
Working longer hours and skipping breaks
You don’t need to work closely with someone to spot changes in behaviour. Absence management software and clocking in and out software can support you in identifying patterns of lateness, absence, and overwork.
“I’ve noticed you seem down lately. Is everything ok?”
If any of these red flags sound familiar, the next step you should take to tackle stress in the workplace is to have a conversation. Make it private, one-to-one, and supportive. Let your employee know you’ve noticed a change, and ask open-ended and supportive questions. Sometimes all it takes is for someone to show concern and acknowledge stress to make things seem brighter. And don’t forget, if you implement any changes, check in after some time to see what's working and if adjustments need to be made.
It doesn’t come easy to everyone, so if you need support with that conversation, take a look at BrightSafe e-learning courses on managing and spotting stress for employers and employees.
“Let’s take a break”
Another way to combat stress in the workplace is by setting a good example and showing your teams that they should take time to recharge.
Take a look at workloads, tasks, and deadlines as a whole and if there’s always a lunchtime rush, one night where everyone stays late, or where deadlines consistently go over, it might be time to review shifts and schedules.
Make sure your employees are taking their breaks with clocking in and out software that reminds them to take some time to recharge. If they don’t take the minimum amount of breaks, you’ll be in breach of hours of work regulations.
“There’s someone else you can talk to”
Think about creating a supportive atmosphere. Workplace culture can make all the difference, so encourage colleagues to look out for each other, with a buddy system, regular 1:1s, or other check ins.
As a small business owner, you don’t have to do it all alone. You can refer your employees to someone else for professional wellbeing support. An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) can be a confidential source of help, with professional counsellors available 24 hours a day.
How BrightHR supports with workplace stress
BrightHR helps you meet your duty of care as an employer by providing the tools you need to identify and manage stress:
Absence management software to record reasons, monitor attendance, and spot patterns in sickness
Blip clocking in software to identify lateness and make sure your teams are taking their breaks
Shift & scheduling software to manage workload and treat staff fairly
E-learning courses on spotting the signs of stress, and preventing stress in the workplace
Round the clock HR and employment relations advice if you need support on how to approach an employee you think might be dealing with workplace stress
Free e-learning course: Psychological safety at work
Employee health and wellbeing should be one of your top priorities. Employee stress is not an illness, but it is a natural reaction. What matters is how it affects your employees, and how you can help them manage stress at work.
Here’s a free e-learning course ‘Psychological Safety’. Discover the common barriers to psychological health and how to implement measures to reduce stress in the workplace.
