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by Rachel Lewis Published September 2, 2025 in Talent • 4 min read
In the participatory action research (PAR) approach to reducing workplace stress, organizations create committees of employees drawn from a range of roles and levels. It is a data-driven approach in which the committees diagnose issues by gathering and analyzing data, then use the insights to design and implement appropriate interventions.
PAR works by ensuring that those most impacted by the organization’s problems have an active role in resolving them. This can include redesigning jobs with the explicit goal of reducing stress: by involving employees in developing their own solutions, organizations can foster employees’ ownership of the working structure and acceptance of its limitations. This collaborative approach can also produce better peer support, change management and well-being outcomes, benefiting individual workers and the business.
PAR initiatives are not necessarily easy to implement, and organizational design can be challenging. Follow these steps to maximize successful outcomes:
Reducing the demands on employees is the most effective way to lower workplace stress.
Broader research findings suggest that reducing the demands on employees is the most effective way to lower workplace stress. The PAR approach can help you achieve this through collective problem-solving that involves the staff most affected by heavy workloads.
Managing Partner at Affinity Health at Work
Dr. Rachel Lewis is a Chartered Occupational Psychologist and Managing Partner at Affinity Health at Work, an award-winning consultancy dedicated to enhancing employee wellbeing through evidence-based practices. With over two decades of experience, Lewis is a leading authority in workplace health, leadership development, and psychosocial risk management.
Alongside her consultancy work, Lewis serves as a Reader in Occupational Psychology at Birkbeck, University of London. Her academic contributions include numerous publications and the development of national guidelines aimed at promoting mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. In recognition of her impactful work, she was ranked third in HR Magazine’s “HR Most Influential Thinker” list in 2023.
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