National Stress Awareness Day: Addressing Employee Well-being

With National Stress Awareness Day now upon us, we're here to highlight why stress awareness at work is so important for businesses and employers. From better identifying the signs of stress so we can take more proactive steps, to working to raise awareness of the help available, we all have a part to play in helping others handle the stressful aspects of their job, both physically and mentally.

What is National Stress Awareness Day

National Stress Awareness Day, observed on the first of November and is aimed at helping businesses and employees better understand the causes of stress and how it can impact the well-being of a person. Stress awareness at work is key as we become more conscious of how we respond to activities that could be physically and mentally harmful, ensuring that we all have access to the right levels of support.

The core purpose is to raise awareness of how stress can manifest itself, which may vary from person to person. By helping people spot the signs of stress earlier, we can take better care of ourselves, both physically and mentally. Many organisations have support systems in place, but if somebody who is suffering does not successfully identify the signs of stress, they would be unaware of what help they can access, making it harder for them to perform at the highest level.

The Rising Tide of Workplace Stress

Stress is something that millions of people in the UK experience and can be damaging to your health and mental well-being, especially if it goes unchecked. To put National Stress Awareness Day into context, the Mental Health Foundation has said that within the last 12 months, 74% of us have felt so stressed that we didn't know how to cope. It's a big deal that is seemingly going under the radar in many organisations, despite stress in the workplace coming more under the spotlight in recent years.

Stress triggers at work can come in many shapes and forms, from handling problematic accounts to being summoned to an impromptu meeting after receiving a vague email from management. Workplace culture can also be a key factor, which is why a healthy relationship between all internal stakeholders is essential. Employee well-being should be a priority for businesses wanting to ensure that their people can perform both on a personal and professional level, helping to ease stressful situations when they arise and taking steps to encourage employees to ask for help when needed.

Many leaders in the workplace do not take steps to encourage employees to take a minute to look for signs of stress, which may not be immediately evident. Stressful situations can arise at a moment's notice, which is why understanding potential stress triggers at work is so important, making it easier to act when it matters most.

Stress in the workplace isn't entirely unavoidable because it's part of life, but employers should be looking to take steps to mitigate its impact and provide resources to those who find themselves in stressful situations, all while working to ensure that these stressful situations don't arise again. This could help turn the tide against our collective battle against workplace stress.

Strategies to Promote Employee Well-being and Reduce Workplace Stress

To combat stress in the workplace, companies can take steps to identify stress triggers at work and promote a healthier work-life balance. After all, an employee who's physically and mentally healthy is more likely to be more productive in the workplace, according to a 2021 study by Warwick University.

The good news is that there are a few things you can do to offer support to employees struggling with stress triggers at work, which may be impacting them physically and mentally.

Provide suitable workplace options

It should go without saying that an office should be comfortable to work in, and studies prove the theory that comfort can affect productivity. By providing a suitable working environment, your employees may feel better equipped to complete the task at hand. You could look at implementing an agile office space, which lets employees decide where they’re more comfortable working on specific tasks.

Positive workplace culture

A bad company culture can hinder an employee’s growth and development, and can even drive them to leave. One of the key desires of the modern worker is that they want to have a better work-life balance, particularly when it comes to hybrid or flexible working. A good way to further enhance a positive company culture is to put the power into the hands of the worker, and let them decide how beneficial hybrid working is for them.

Develop a wellness policy

Many companies now have wellness policies in place to help create a workplace culture that encourages cooperation, collaboration and well-reasoned decision-making. It's vital to focus on the well-being of our employees and understand how even small actions can significantly impact our colleagues.

What is The Employer's Responsibility for Managing Stress?

If you're wondering how can employers reduce stress in the workplace, it's worth looking into your responsibilities as an employer. According to People Safe, employers have a legal duty to ensure that their employees have their health, safety, and welfare needs met, as per The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. While this doesn't address stress in the workplace directly, it does relate to an employer's legal obligation to ensure that employees feel comfortable at work and aren't placed under extreme amounts of stress, which could compromise their health and well-being.

As well as this, it's generally accepted that employers have a moral obligation to those working for them. If somebody is struggling in their personal life, it makes sense for an employer to provide appropriate support because this can easily impact their ability to work, turning already stressful situations into something much more serious should they make a costly mistake, for example.

From carrying out a stress-related risk assessment project to understanding how different people deal with stress, it's important that employers help their people feel comfortable at work and that reasonable steps are taken to protect their mental and physical well-being, both legally and morally.

How Does Stress Affect Employees?

Stress can affect employee well-being in a variety of ways. If they're unable to deal with stress at work, and it's becoming entirely unmanageable, you may notice that their attendance takes a hit, not because they don't want to work, but because they can't. Mental health issues can manifest themselves in many ways, from feeling physically sick to not being able to focus on the tasks at hand.

We need people to feel comfortable while being in difficult and uncomfortable situations, that's part of working at a high level, but finding this balance can take a lot of time. Stress in the workplace should never become harmful enough to warrant further action, and if it does, steps must be taken to care for this person and ensure that it doesn't happen again. This stress can spill into their personal lives and put a strain on their relationships with others, which will then feed into the cycle of stress and anxiety, further reducing productivity and the likelihood of a positive outcome.

Mental Health Benefits of Office Spaces and Coworking Spaces

Over the past few years, company culture has become a key talking point for workers, especially in light of the Great Resignation. We all live hectic lives and if you are able to help your employees find solutions that are useful for them and their families, you can help foster an environment in which all parties are satisfied. If you can find a working solution to help reduce stress in the workplace, you should see an increase in morale and productivity.

Co-working spaces encourage collaboration and discussion, which can naturally draw out conversations about mental and physical well-being. Conversation can be the great equaliser and by helping workers get to know each other better, they can build lasting relationships that can provide support when needed. Human intervention can provide a lifeline, especially when we're looking at stress triggers at work, so encouraging this should be a priority.

Conclusion

If you like the sound of a hybrid or co-working solution for your team and believe it could help alleviate some of the workplace stress-causing factors, get in touch with a member of the Knight Frank team.

We specialise in providing workplace solutions for employers and recognise the importance of getting people back into the office. It's about re-establishing that human connection and creating an environment in which we can talk openly and without worry. While National Stress Awareness Day serves as a timely reminder, it's essential to carry this sentiment throughout the year.