April is Stress Awareness Month, and it couldn’t come at a better time. The most recent HSE statistics show just under 1 million UK workers suffering from stress, depression or anxiety, accounting for half of all workplace ill health. Of these complaints, stress is by far the most common.
Another recent study found that 76% of UK workers are experiencing moderate to high stress – an increase of 13% since last year.
While it may be tempting to see workplace stress as a minor issue, the dangers are all too real. As well as being less productive, stressed employees are more likely to make mistakes, creating serious risks for themselves and others. This is an area in which small changes can make a big difference, though. Here’s our guide to the most common causes of stress, and the steps you can take to ease the pressure.
What causes workplace stress?
Stress can be caused by a number of factors. Some of these stem from individual circumstances, but many are a direct result of conditions in the workplace. These workplace stressors fall into six main categories:
- Being unable to cope with the demands of the job
- Not being in control of the way you work
- A lack of information or support from management
- Poor relationships with colleagues, including bullying
- Not understanding your role or responsibilities
- Feeling disconnected from changes within the business
How can I tell if an employee is stressed?
Workplace stress often manifests itself in behavioural changes. A stressed employee may become withdrawn and unmotivated or begin to react more emotionally to the daily challenges of the job.
Changes in working patterns can also be a sign that something is wrong. If an employee is frequently late or absent, they may be struggling to cope with stress.
How does stress affect employees?
Stress can have a major impact on the productivity of a business. Over 17 million working days are lost every year as a result of stress, depression and anxiety, costing UK businesses around £28 billion. Even if stressed employees show up for work, they are unlikely to be productive. Stress often results in low motivation and a lack of concentration, leading to work that is lower in quality and in quantity.
This is a serious problem, but it pales in comparison to the physical dangers of a stressed workforce. Stressed employees often have trouble concentrating, causing them to neglect or forget safe systems of work.
This increases the chances of an accident or injury, especially if a task involves heavy machinery or other dangerous equipment. Stress can also lead to a breakdown in relationships between employees and management, making it less likely that employees will report safety issues.
What can I do to reduce workplace stress?
Looking through our health and safety lenses, an effective way to tackle workplace stress is to carry out a stress risk assessment. This can be difficult to get right, so it’s a good idea to enlist a fresh set of eyes. Our experts can examine every aspect of your business, highlighting any risks and providing a detailed set of recommendations for reducing the danger.
These may include:
- Reducing workloads or extending deadlines to lessen the pressure on employees
- Allowing senior employees to delegate some of their responsibilities
- Altering shift patterns to give employees more time to rest
Ask us about workplace stress risk assessments
We are experts in producing stress risk assessments and can help you achieve a more productive, safer workforce. By the time we’re finished, you’ll have everything you need to help keep your employees happy, productive, and safe. Give us a call to get started.
