On 1st November, ISMA (The International Stress Management Association) will be holding its 25th annual International Stress Awareness Day.
While previous years’ events have focused on strategies for dealing with workplace stress, this year is all about tackling the root causes. The theme is Beyond Stress Management: From Stigma to Solutions, and the focus will be on overcoming the reluctance of many businesses to discuss the issue openly.
Through our work, we’ve seen first-hand the effect that stress can have on a company and its employees. We’ve also picked up a few ideas for making things better. Here’s a look at the major causes of workplace stress, and the steps you can take to put your employees at ease.
A nation under stress
Employees have always struggled with stress, but the problem seems to have worsened in recent years, or at least become more apparent. As economic pressures have grown, the rise of remote working has made it difficult for many to manage their workloads. Recent statistics paint a grim picture of a workforce under more stress than ever before:
- 914,000 UK workers suffered from stress, depression or anxiety in 2021/22, making it the largest single cause of workplace ill health
- Three quarters of employees report moderate or high feelings of stress at work
- A third of workers feel that stress reduces their productivity
As well as damaging employee health, this rising tide of stress has serious economic ramifications. An estimated 13.7 million working days are lost every year to poor mental health, costing UK businesses over £28 billion. For everyone’s sake, this is an issue that needs to be addressed urgently.
What causes workplace stress?
Any job can become stressful given the right circumstances. According to HSE, the six most common stressors are:
- Unreasonable demands
- A lack of control
- Negative relationships with coworkers (including bullying or harassment)
- A lack of information or support
- Poorly defined responsibilities
- Disengagement from changes to the business
Some of these factors are especially pertinent to remote working. Employees who work from home are vulnerable to feelings of disengagement, and the blurring of boundaries between home and work can make it difficult for them to “switch off” at the end of the day.
What are the warning signs of stress?
As with any mental health condition, stress can be tricky to spot. Employees may be reluctant to speak up, so it’s important to recognise the warning signs. These include things like an increase in absences and lateness; a lack of motivation; trouble meeting deadlines; arguments with coworkers; and erratic behaviour that may be symptomatic of drug or alcohol abuse.
How can I make things better?
This is an area where prevention is better than cure. Can you create an environment that keeps stress to a minimum, while ensuring that employees feel able to speak up if they’re struggling?
The first step is to carry out a stress risk assessment. This should highlight areas of potential stress, and the employees who may be especially vulnerable. These could include remote workers, employees with demanding roles, and those with difficult personal circumstances.
Once you’ve identified the risks, try to think of some ways to reduce them. Some of these will be specific to your workplace, but general strategies include:
- Adjusting schedules to give employees more time to complete tasks
- Scheduling regular check-ins with employees, including those working remotely
- Banning the sending of emails outside of working hours
- Creating a way for employees to report workplace problems anonymously
- Making sure that everyone takes the holiday to which they’re entitled
Help is at hand
Tackling workplace stress can be a stressful job in itself. As well as making practical changes, you’ll need to support your employees as they adapt to a new way of working. This is a lot to ask, but you don’t have to do it alone.
We offer a range of eLearning courses, including modules on stress awareness and general mental health. All coming with CPD certification, these courses will give you and your team a firm grounding in the fundamentals of stress reduction. If this isn’t enough, we’re always on hand to give further advice. Get in touch to find out more.
