Table 1.

Taxonomy of interventions for workplace stress modified, with permission, from the original table authored by Clarke and Cooper¹³

Intervention level Definition and Description	Intervention targets	Examples
Primary Preventive and proactive Goal: reducing potential risk or altering the nature of the work stressor before workers experience stress-related symptoms or disease	Stressors at their source, organisation of work and working conditions	Job redesign, workload reduction, reduction of workflow inefficiencies, improved communications
Secondary Ameliorative Goal: to help equip workers with knowledge, skills and resources to cope with stressful conditions	Employee responses to stressors (perceived stress or strain)	Cognitive–behavioural therapy, stress management training
Tertiary Reactive Goal: to treat, support, compensate and rehabilitate workers with enduring stress-related symptoms and disease	Short-term and enduring adverse health effects of job	Return to work programmes, employee assistance programmes, occupational therapy and medical stress interventions