“Not another book about workplace stress”—emanating in this case, from the “stress industry” would be an understandable reaction. Carole Spiers, the author, unequivocally describes herself as an “occupational stress consultant” and head of the Carole Spiers Group: “International Corporate Well-being Consultants”.

She faces up to the implications immediately by asking “Why indeed another book about stress? What makes it different from the others?” Well, this one is intended to be practical and user friendly – a handbook that can sit on your shelf and act as a reference manual to be dipped into whenever required. It is aimed primarily at employers, employees, and their representatives rather than occupational health practitioners or academics; this is not a criticism—many occupational health practitioners will …