Stress Awareness in the Workplace

This month marks Stress Awareness Day.

The issue of employee stress has become increasingly prominent in recent years following the pandemic, Brexit, cost of living crisis and various other shifts making our lives more stressful than perhaps they once were.

Stress is often a silent problem that can have a profound impact on an organisation and its employees. Being able to demonstrate stress awareness in the workplace is critical, regardless of whether it is related to work or personal reasons. Understanding the causes and effects of employee stress is crucial in order to provide the necessary support and ensure a healthy, productive work environment.

Why is it important to identify employee stress?

Mental and Physical Health

Prolonged stress can have severe consequences on an employee’s mental and physical health, which can result in long-term sickness absences. Having stress awareness in the workplace and subsequently addressing any identified issues can significantly reduce the impact on stress on individuals.

Impact on Productivity

Employee stress can lead to decreased productivity, absenteeism, and a higher likelihood of making mistakes. Identifying and addressing stress can significantly improve overall work performance.

Workplace Morale

Stress in the workplace can sometimes have an impact on the overall organisational culture, especially if several individuals are feeling that way. Stress awareness and management can help maintain a positive workplace culture.

An employee shows sign of workplace stress.

What are the causes of employee stress?

Stress is subjective. What one person may deem a stressful situation, may be less troubling for another. In addition to that, there is not one single cause of stress. Stress can be caused by issues in both work and at home:

Work-related stress

Demanding workloads, tight deadlines, unrealistic expectations, and lack of job security are all common causes of work-related stress. Workplace conflicts, bullying, or harassment can also contribute to stress.

Personal Factors

Stress might be caused by personal reasons such as financial problems, relationship issues, or health concerns. According to statistics, 39% of UK adults cite lack of sleep and money worries as primary causes of stress in their lives. These personal stressors can significantly impact on the way an employee behaves and performs in the workplace.

What should employers do to improve stress awareness in the workplace?

Employers have a moral and legal obligation to support employees dealing with stress, whether it stems from work-related issues or personal concerns. Providing a supportive and understanding environment means that organisations can help employees cope with stress more effectively.

There are lots of ways employers can improve stress awareness in the workplace, but education and awareness is a key part of tackling workplace stress, as well as addressing any indentified stress in the right way.

A manager sits down with an employee to discuss their stress and how the organisation can support them.

How PeopleStreams can help your organisation manage employee stress

For our client members, PeopleStreams gives you access to a thorough stress assessment form and action plan, to support employers in identifying the impact of stress and subsequently how to address it and support their employees.

For our free members, PeopleStreams has released a new free resource to support stress management in the workplace. Free members can download an employee stress flowchart which clearly outlines the process an organisation should follow should they identify stress in the workplace. This step-by-step visual enables people managers to take the right actions to support their employees.