Workplace stress is something the majority of us are no stranger to. Unfortunately, a large number of work environments can often fall into the trap of becoming a place where a fast pace and too much on your plate is the norm, and speaking up about feeling burned out is avoided out of fear of being judged or seen as incapable.
But actually, employers and business owners would see invaluable benefits from treating the mental health of their employees as a top priority. With 15.4 million days a year lost at work through stress and £5.2 billion in lost time, taking care of your workforce is actually taking care of your business. Here’s how to reduce stress and enhance productivity in the workplace.
The Importance of Mental Health Awareness in the Workplace
In the fast-paced and demanding landscape of the modern workplace, the importance of proper mental health awareness can’t be overstated. Prioritising mental well-being at work supports a healthier, more productive environment for both employees and employers, creating a space where people not only enjoy their day-to-day but thrive in their work.
Openly acknowledging mental health issues and proactively working towards supporting them helps to reduce the stigma that has surrounded this area in previous years. When employees feel more supported in their mental health concerns, they are more likely to actively seek out support and speak out about any stressors they might be experiencing, which helps to navigate the path to managing their stress easier and quicker.
Additionally, when employers prioritise mental health at work, they demonstrate a commitment to their employees’ well-being. This fosters a positive work culture built on trust and support, helping staff to feel valued.
Raising awareness around how to deal with stress at work also helps to encourage proactive stress management and self-care at home. Signs of burnout, anxiety, and stress become easier to spot, meaning employees will be more able to recognise when they are struggling and have the tools required to take proactive steps to better manage their mental health, which helps to prevent any issues from escalating further.
Identifying Common Stressors at Work and How to Address Them
Identifying common stressors at work is the first step in fostering a more harmonious, happy, and productive workplace environment. The sooner a stressor is identified, the sooner you can work to manage and support the employee.
Signs such as decreased productivity, absenteeism, and increased tension among coworkers are clear signs of burnout and anxiety. If you’re an employer wondering how you can help to deal with work stress and anxiety, make sure you’re actively spending time with your team and having conversations with them, both one-to-one and among groups in order to gauge how people are feeling and responding in different dynamics.
Another way to monitor work stress from a distance is to distribute surveys among your team. You can quickly and easily gather anonymous feedback, which can be helpful in situations where an employee might not feel comfortable sharing their concerns in person. Surveys could even become a regular practice within your team to keep up-to-date with how everyone’s doing, with check-ins and feedback on workload, job satisfaction, work-life balance, unclear expectations, and any other sources of stress.
At a data level, analysing trends in turnover rates and employee grievances is also an effective method of revealing any underlying stressors, as these might indicate where an employee is struggling to manage their work due to their own mental health issues.
5 Ways to Manage Stress in the Workplace
Here are our five top tips for workplace stress management – use these strategies to create a mentally healthy workplace culture.
Provide Stress Management Resources
Workshops, training sessions, and access to resources are so important to actively supporting employees with their mental health. Stress management techniques, such as mindfulness, meditation, relaxation exercises, and physical exercise are all so helpful in maintaining good mental health. Additional support could even look like providing access to counselling services or employee assistance programs (EAPs).
Promote Work-Life Balance
Actively encourage employees to establish clear boundaries between their work and personal life. This could be as simple as switching off their work email outside of office hours, or something more personal such as offering flexible hours or a different schedule to accommodate individual needs. Regular breaks and holiday time should also be a priority so employees have a chance to switch off and recharge.
Time Management and Workload Balance Support
Provide training on time management techniques and realistic goal-setting. This could also come in the form of regular one-to-ones with individual employees to offer support and guidance with different workloads and how staff are managing their time, which can also help to aid in the management of evenly distributed and manageable workloads across a team.
Team Activities
A key component of any team looking to create a more positive work environment, making time for off-the-clock activities really helps to foster a more tight-knit and supportive work environment. Cultivate a positive culture of support and collaboration through group activities where work is off the table.
Open Communication
Open communication is so important for encouraging collaboration and support amongst a team. Encourage teamwork, recognition of achievements, and peer support networks for a more supportive work environment where employees feel safe to express concerns and provide feedback when necessary.
The Role of Employers in Supporting Employee Mental Health
Employers play a vital role in supporting employee mental health. By fostering a workplace culture that prioritises well-being through providing access to mental health resources and encouraging open communication, employers can work to reduce stress and burnout and encourage an environment where the whole team feels valued, heard, and supported in their mental health.
If you’re an employer or business owner looking for ways to actively encourage prioritising mental health at work, or you’re wanting to learn more about how to cope with work stress, our expert team of HR professionals is here to help. Get in touch today to hear more about how we can help you out, with essential tools such as mental health first aid training and stress risk assessments for a more positive, harmonious, and proactive work environment.
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