Table 2 Interview Questions for Employees and Supervisors

Employees

Introduction: This interview is about work stress. During the interview, I would like to talk about two things: your own experience with work stress and work stress prevention. By work stress we do not mean regular excitement that people might find agreeable, but actual tension or stress that feels uncomfortable, and is related to work. First, I would like to ask you some questions about your own experience with work stress. Then, I would like to ask you some questions about what you think would be necessary within your organisation to prevent or reduce work stress. The interview will take approximately 30 min. Do you have any questions? Then let us begin:

 1. Can the work stress you (might) experience be reduced or prevented? Do you want that? What is required to achieve this? What circumstances do you find important for the prevention or reduction of work stress? What could hinder prevention or reduction of work stress?

 2. What should happen within your organisation to prevent or reduce work stress? Do you think this is necessary? What does it take to make this happen?

 3. What role do you play in preventing or reducing work stress? Would you be willing to play a role? What would facilitate this?

 4. What other parties can support prevention or reduction of work stress? What can your supervisor do? What can your company physician do? What can your colleagues do? Are there any others that can support work stress reduction or prevention?

 5. What advice would you give to your supervisor regarding the work stress prevention needs of employees? What advice would you give to your organisation? Are there others you would like to give advice?

Supervisors

Introduction: This interview is about work stress. During the interview, I would like to talk about two things: your experience with work stress in the employees that you supervise and work stress prevention. By work stress we do not mean regular excitement that people might find agreeable, but actual tension or stress that feels uncomfortable, and is related to work. First, I would like to ask you some questions about stress in your workplace. These question are about work stress in your employees specifically. Then, I would like to ask you some questions about what you think would be necessary within your organisation to prevent or reduce work stress. The interview will take approximately 30 min. Do you have any questions? Then let us begin:

 1. Can the work stress that employees that you supervise (might) experience be reduced or prevented? Do you think this is necessary? Do you want this? What is required to achieve this? What circumstances do you find important for the prevention or reduction of work stress? What could hinder prevention or reduction of work stress?

 2. What role do you play in prevention or reducing work stress? Would you be willing to play a role? What would you need to facilitate this?

 3. What other parties can support prevention or reduction of work stress? What can your company physician do? What can your colleagues do? What can employees do? Are there any others that can support work stress reduction or prevention?

 4. How would you describe the organisational climate when it comes to work stress? Is it possible to discuss work stress? What can your supervisor do to prevent or reduce work stress? How do influential persons within your organisation deal with indications of work stress?

 5. What advice would you give to your organisation regarding the work stress prevention needs of supervisors? What advice would you give to your colleagues? Are there others you would like to give advice?