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Legal & General Construction Wellbeing Programme · Talk 4 of 10

Managing Pressure & Deadlines

Toolbox Talk: Working Under Pressure Without Breaking

At a Glance

Ninety-two percent of construction workers say unrealistic deadlines are their top stressor. Pressure is part of the job, but unmanaged pressure leads to poor decisions, conflict, fatigue and mental health breakdown. Learning to manage pressure effectively protects your health, your relationships, and the quality of your work.

In the Ownminder App · Unwind & De-Stress + Flexible Mind

Two complementary sections in Ownminder: Unwind & De-Stress provides immediate calming tools; Flexible Mind helps you reframe the pressure itself.

  • Pocket Time: Guides you to use small pockets of free time in your day to decompress, puzzles, breathing or visualisation, building serotonin and endorphins.
  • And Breathe, 7/11 Technique: Use in the cab, at break or before a tense conversation. In for 7, out for 11 activates your Soothing System within two minutes.
  • Worry Thoughts: Distinguishes between imagined worries (things outside your control) and real problems you can actually solve, stops the spiral.
  • 15 Mins Rule: In the Drive & Grit section: if you're avoiding a difficult task, commit to just 15 minutes. Once started, dopamine kicks in to keep you going.
  • Non-Negotiables: Helps you define the daily habits, a morning routine, a breathing practice, a bedtime, that protect your baseline when work pressure peaks.

Discussion Questions

  1. ISO 45003:2021 identifies work demands as a primary psychosocial hazard category. What are the biggest demand pressures on this project right now, and are they being assessed?
  2. What does unmanaged pressure look like in your team, and how does it affect how you work?
  3. Are there deadlines or expectations on this project that feel unrealistic?
  4. What helps you personally decompress after a particularly pressured day?
  5. How could the team better share load when one person is overwhelmed?
  6. What one commitment will you make to communicate sooner when pressure builds?

Recognising the Signs

Unmanaged pressure shows up as: snapping at colleagues, cutting corners, trouble sleeping, constant worry about what's coming next, and a feeling of being permanently 'on.' Physically, it causes headaches, tension, digestive problems and raised blood pressure. These are signals that workload or ways of working need to change. The HSE Management Standards Indicator Tool identifies work demands as one of six key stress risk areas. Your line manager is trained in the DEASC conversation model and equipped to discuss workload concerns confidentially. Monthly 1:1 check-ins are a CIOB 2025 recommendation, only 35% of companies currently do this.

Things to Try

Open the Ownminder app and explore the Flexible Mind and Unwind & De-Stress sections. Alongside the app, practical on-site approaches include:

  • Break large tasks into smaller steps, makes progress visible and reduces overwhelm
  • Communicate early when targets feel unrealistic, speak up before you burn out
  • Use the two-minute rule: if it takes less than two minutes, do it now
  • Build short decompression breaks into your day, even 5 minutes makes a difference
  • Say no clearly and early rather than overcommitting and underdelivering

Sustained Performance

Managing pressure enables consistent quality over a long project, not just short bursts.

Reduced Errors

Workers under extreme pressure make more mistakes, managing load keeps standards high.

Better Team Culture

Teams that communicate about pressure perform better and look out for each other.

Support

DEASC 1:1 with your line manager · Ownminder Unwind module · EAP (free, confidential) · MHFA on site · Samaritans 116 123

Attendance Declaration

I have attended this toolbox talk, heard the content, and know where to access Ownminder, MHFA, EAP and crisis support if I need it.

Name

Signature

Standard 7 (Working Conditions, role demands, workload) · Standard 5 (People Management) · Standard 11 (Culture)

NEF: Take Notice

Lever 3: Healthy Living and Working Conditions, workload as a psychosocial hazard