Recent data suggests that 79% of British adults commonly experience workplace stress. This statistic is 20% higher than 2021.
If you are in a position of leadership or actively managing a team, then it is important that you familiarise yourself with the tell-tale signs of workplace stress, whether it be increased sickness absence, reduced productivity, or disciplinary issues.
With this in mind, how can you address stress in your workplace, and make your employees happier as a result?
Stress sectors
The Local and National Government is reportedly the most stressful sector to work in, but how do other industries fare? The percentage of workers that have experienced work-related stress include:
- Telecoms – 88%
- Media and Marketing – 85%
- Education – 83%
- Travel – 79%
- Legal and Professional Services – 79%
This demographic snapshot shows that workplace stress is not solely prevalent in one or two industry sectors. So how you can you spot the early signs of workplace stress?
How to spot workplace stress
Recognise the signs and symptoms of problems in your workplace to be in a position to offer your employees the support they need.
Common signs include:
- Decreased productivity
- Increased sickness absence
- Disciplinary concerns
- High staff turnover
- Appearing withdrawn
- Lacking motivation or commitment
It’s a good idea to correlate workloads with increased sickness periods to see if there’s a pattern of behaviour. In addition, if usually reliable employees are causing problems in the workplace, this is a red flag to potentially indicate that they aren’t managing stress levels well.
According to the World Health Organisation, workplace stress is common in situations when employees are asked to do tasks that exceed their knowledge, abilities, and coping skills. A lack of support from managers and colleagues exacerbate this stress.
The top five things employees cite that cause workplace stress include:
- Heavy workloads
- Unrealistic job expectations
- Long hours
- Low wages
- Lack of opportunity for growth
How to help your workplace manage stress
Help your employees to maintain a good work-life balance and ensure that employees’ workloads match their abilities. Deadlines should be reasonable and steps taken to allow employees as much control as possible over tasks that they perform. Clear leadership is crucial – make sure that everyone in your business knows what is expected of them, who they are answerable to, and provide transparent job expectations to ensure roles are understood.
Open lines of communication can help reduce stress levels of employees. This communication should include: ono-to-one communication with employees to discuss issues; small group meetings for employees to raise any concerns they may have; and open communication regarding potential changes within the business.
Prioritise wellness in the workplace
You could implement wellness tips or stress-management webinars and encourage your team to get involved. Set an example by taking part in these resources yourself. Check that your employees are taking regular breaks and if possible, teach them skills of active coping and relaxation. Online resources such as wellness portals help employees stay up-to-date and establish interconnectivity. This is especially important if you manage a remote workforce.
Consider offering your workforce resources such as discounted gym memberships, counselling or therapy sessions to alleviate stress.
Wrapping up
Unmanaged stress in your business erodes productivity, morale, and profitability. Helping your employees cope with both immediate stressors, as well as encouraging employees to find ways to decompress on their own, are priorities.
All employers have a duty to protect the health and wellbeing of their employees. Be sure to offer support and take steps to improve the situation for your workforce.
If you’d like further advice on employment law, or any legal topics surrounding your business, get in touch for a chat.
