Employer perceptions of stress and resilience intervention

To understand employers' perceived organizational strengths in addressing stress and resilience-building to help expand theoretical knowledge and guide interventions.

Interviews and discussion groups with 46 employer representatives using grounded theory methodology for sampling and analysis of narrative data.

Participants detailed three levels of approaches: (1) preventing stress/building resilience; (2) providing information, resources, and benefits to employees; and (3) intervening actively with troubled employees. Preventing stress through trusting work relationships and trust in stability of organizational structures emerged as a core concept explaining effectiveness of these approaches. Results are discussed using positive organizational scholarship, systems, and well-being frameworks.

Psychosocial distress has unfavorable effects on human health and work performance. Greater attention to the systemic development and maintenance of trust in workplace relationships and systems is suggested.