Every April since 2003, the Stress Management Society have run Stress Awareness Month. SAM is aimed at awareness and advice to those who may be struggling with stress, and for their closer contacts to notice the signs too. Direct365 try to shine a light on issues impacting all small businesses, from hygiene, to health and more. Stress awareness month is another cause we’re passionate about especially when it comes to workplace stress.

Workplace stress is one of the largest reasons that people struggle. And by the looks of things the last two years – with COVID and increased costs of living – hasn’t helped. But there are things that your business can do to ensure your staff are getting the support they need to do their job. We’ve also spoken to wellness and resilience coach Gemma Margerison about how you can support your staff in work and to help their life outside of work.

What are the Facts about Workplace Stress?

We’re still in a place where there is a gap between how staff feel and what businesses do to help when it comes to stress. Mental health and stress awareness has grown in the last decade, but there is still a level of miseducation. Because stress isn’t always just a visual, physical condition, it’s difficult to see. The term ‘seeing is believing’ isn’t apt here. Stress is something that impacts everyone at some point, and that’s born out in the facts.

According to the Mental Health Foundation, 74% of adults have felt so stressed in work that they have felt unable to cope or overwhelmed. This is clearly not O.K. Your business should be looking at ways that you can help employees feel safe, secure and able to work their best. And this is also evident in the studies.

31% of all employees state they have too heavy a workload to take time off when they are stressed. This cycle of busy schedules and stress could be difficult to curve. Similarly, 31% of staff from 1001 U.K. staff surveyed by Canada Life Group in 2013 stated that the organisation they work in was not doing enough to reduce stress.

Additional concerning stats include 75% of staff report to have seen presenteeism (the act of overworking ones stated hours) in the office, with 77% stating they had seen that happen while working from home. As the debate of office-based or remote-based work rumbles on, this stat shows that often, neither are good enough for their workers’ mental health. So, what can be done by businesses to support their staff more?

How you can Notice Workplace Stress

The list of telltale signs of workplace stress look general, but when brought together can help employees and leaders identify when they may need to chat to a particular employee. These signs are:

  • Extroverted people becoming introverted.
  • Becoming more accident prone.
  • More short tempered or a change in temperament.
  • Dramatic weight change.

Ensure you’re paying attention to an of these changes over 5 days or more. If you’re unsure, just ask.

How can your Business Reduce Employee Stress?

We hope that going forward organisations will begin to take stress more seriously across the board. In our search for advice, we spoke to Gemma Margerison, a wellness and resilience coach, about how businesses can help their employees avoid unneeded stress at the workplace. Here’s what she advised:

Get to know your staff.

This may seem like an obvious one, or that you think you know your staff already, but many businesses don’t. “Taking a genuine interest in the lives of your employees can help prevent stress on several levels, not least of which by allowing them to feel heard and seen.” said Gemma. “This creates a safe space for individuals to share their concerns, suggestions, wins, and worries. Be visible, be accessible, and don’t be afraid to share a little bit of yourself as well.”

Assess your environment.

Working has changed drastically across the last 2 years, and there’s a good chance you may not have thought about your staff’s opinion on this. And it’s not just about whether they want to work from home or not. But about how they work best and whether your space is appropriate. When discussing our working environment, Gemma said “The way we work has changed dramatically over the last couple of years which can bring challenges. Work in a crowded office? Perhaps look for ways to create quiet and calm spaces for people to unwind. Team working from home? Perhaps find ways to bring everyone together socially. By offering a change of pace and scenery you give employees the chance to relax.”

Just ask.

This process doesn’t need to be harder than it is. And this piece of advice may be Gemma’s best. “One of the most impactful questions someone has ever asked me is, what do you need? I’ve seen far too many organisations implement initiatives with the very best intentions but completely miss the mark because they do not reflect the needs of their staff. Finding ways to gather and action feedback from employees will help to not only include everyone in the decision-making process but to action effective support.”

Hopefully you’ve gotten some food for thought on how to engage your staff to help them feel less stressed. That, mixed with figures about why you should do this for the good of their health and your businesses, you have no excuse. Too many businesses stop at what the bare minimum is. For the future, why not go above and beyond and make this Stress Awareness Month a good one for your employees.

Are there any other things you think your business could be doing? Let us know!

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