ADDRESS THE STRESS

Stress is an increasingly topical issue when it comes to the workplace with a reported one in five people suffering from this invisible illness (NI Direct, 2015). With each case of work-related stress leading to an average of 24 working days lost (HSENI, 2014), it’s a problem employers can’t afford to ignore.  Dr. Alan Black, Director of occupational health providers, Blackwell Associates Limited, outlines what work-related stress is and how employers can combat it by adopting a ‘prevention is better than cure’ approach.

WHAT EXACTLY IS WORK-RELATED STRESS?

Simply put, work-related stress is the negative reaction that occurs when demands at work exceed one’s ability to cope. It can also be caused by other problems at work, such as feeling inadequate, bullying and harassment, or having poor working conditions.

Stress should be viewed as a ‘process’, where intense emotional and mental pressure - caused by excessive work demands - leads to physical and psychological impairment.   

A GROWING PROBLEM

A Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD, 2014) report found that just over two-fifths of organisations have noticed an increase in reported mental health problems (such as anxiety and depression) among employees.

Stress has significant and profound implications for individual and organisational performance, meaning that no matter what size the company, all employers need to pay attention to this workplace epidemic.

Employees under increasing mental strain tend to take more sickness leave. This may lead to gaps that need to be filled by employing casual or agency staff, while also increasing overtime and longer working hours for other employees - leaving a significant footprint on your bottom line and resources

While the CIPD found that currently workload is ranked the most common cause of stress, followed by management style and relationships, identifying the underlying causes of it should remain a continued priority for all employers. 

SPOT THE SIGNS

As stress affects people in different ways with no two cases ever being the same, employers need to be vigilant in terms of looking out for every member of staff and be proactive in terms of evaluating the workplace environment as a whole.

Some symptoms may be more evident to managers or colleagues than others, for example changes in behaviour,heightened emotions or difficulty concentrating. On the other hand however, difficulty sleeping, lack of appetite and chest pains are not so easy to spot.

In fact, a recent report by Axa (2015) found that only 39% of employees admitted to the problem if they had to call in sick because of stress, anxiety or depression, making it even harder for employers to identify the  issues involved.

OUTSIDE SUPPORT

Due to the wide-ranging considerations that employers need to bear in mind when it comes to workplace stress, it often proves beneficial to appoint an occupational health provider. 

A provider can deliver a company’s risk assessment, with stress being one of the hazards examined. 

They can also develop any policies required to ensure that senior managers and team leaders are clear about what the company procedure is when it comes to dealing with instances of work related stress - and that employees know their well-being is considered.  

Finally, an occupational health provider can also provide advice and support to staff members experiencing the effects of stress, including guidance on how to return to work after periods of absence as a result of work related ill health.

The team at Blackwell Associates Limited are well positioned to provide expert occupational health services and advice. For more information, please contact the team on +44 28 9065 6131 or enquiries@blackwellassociates.co.uk