Let’s Talk About Stress

Work-related stress is defined by the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as: “The adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or other types of demand placed on them at work’.

Unmanaged levels of work-related stress can have severe consequences for employee’s physical and mental health, which can manifest into behavioural and performance-related issues in the workplace. Signs of stress can differ between individuals, but may appear as aggressive behaviour, conflict, and/or withdrawal. There may be physical signs of stress, such as nervous speech, or a decline in work performance. Other behaviours associated with stress include increased consumption of alcohol, a decline in personal hygiene, or accidents occurring in the home or workplace. When focusing on an entire team, stress warning signs include increased absences, higher staff turnover, and an increase in complaints and grievances. The HSE has identified six key contributors to workplace stress. These are:

Workplace demands (inability to cope with demands)
Lack of support (not receiving important information, poor communication from leaders)
Lack of control over work (unable to control how they complete their work)
Poor workplace relationships (toxic culture or bullying)
A poor understanding of role and responsibilities
Change within the business (especially where employees are not engaged with such change)

Employers can put in place interventions to manage stress. Keep reading for our top stress management tips for employers.

Encourage Open Communication
It is crucial that employees feel able to communicate openly as this can build trust and increase feelings of inclusion. Communication can be encouraged by the adoption of strategies such as turn-taking and active listening. When engaging in conversation with employees, always try to face the speaker, maintain eye contact, and give each party an equal chance to speak. Ask questions to gain more context, and paraphrase back to the speaker to show that you are listening and understanding what is being said.

Host Team Building Activities
Team building activities are a great way to build and maintain relationships between employees. These activities can open doors for communication as well as providing a mental and physical break for employees where they involve playing games or completing challenges.

Offer Flexible Working Options Where Appropriate
Providing employees with some control over their working pattern and location of work can permit a better work/life balance. This could be achieved through the introduction of a flexitime scheme or remote working. Cutting out a long commute or having the ability to fit working patterns around other commitments can be a great way to reduce the stress levels of employees.

Strategic Office Design
If your employees are office based, a well-designed office space can promote calm. This can be achieved through the strategic use of natural lighting, the introduction of a soft colour scheme (think soothing hues of blue and green) and the addition of plants. Avoid bold colours, harsh lighting, and fully open plan office layouts.

Employers have a legal duty to protect employees from stress at work, so it is vitally important that employers can identify stress and put measures in place to manage it effectively. To find out how the We Do Group can assist you in the management of employee stress, please get in touch.

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