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Good news: the benefits of workplace stress management are increasingly widely recognized and integrated into corporate culture. Organizations of all sizes are beginning to understand that good mental health is crucial to the health and well-being of their employees, and that it's also beneficial for their finances.
The organization for quality of life at work Great Place To Work is conducting research on this topic. According to its survey entitled “Stress and wellbeing at work: A European Outlook” (Stress and well-being at work: what are the prospects in Europe?):
“In Europe, 52% of the companies surveyed had developed support measures for managers facing stress, but only 26% reported the presence of mechanisms to measure stress levels.” 1
Reducing workplace stress can reduce staff turnover, increase job satisfaction, and improve employee engagement, which leads to increased productivity and efficiency. Not to mention the reduction in stress-related absences and chronic illnesses.
Happy and healthy employees are more present, motivated, and productive. Moreover, their long-term mental health prognosis is significantly more optimistic.
Companies that choose to take action to prevent workplace stress levels from rising are beginning to see tangible benefits for their employees' long-term health and revenue. However, there is still much to be done.
How big is the problem of workplace stress?
In 2017, Theresa May, then Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, commissioned a survey by the Stevenson/Farmer firm on mental health in the workplace. This became the basis for the model. “Thriving at Work” (thriving at work), now implemented in British companies.
According to this research,
“[Mental health] represents a high annual cost to employers of between £33 billion and £42 billion (more than half of which is attributed to presenteeism, when individuals are less productive due to poor mental health at work), with additional costs related to sick leave and staff turnover.” 2
Where are we today in terms of stress management?
The numbers are currently rising, partly due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the challenges it is bringing, such as financial worry, layoffs, furloughs, trauma, illness and rising levels of anxiety due to daily pressures.
Most companies have faced challenges with absenteeism, presenteeism, and the resulting workplace issues. Now, unsurprisingly, the numbers are rising again. The lines between work and private life are blurring with remote working initiatives, and the longer-term consequences of Covid-19 are beginning to emerge.
According to a recent report by the CIPD (British association for human resources management),
“Mental health-related absence is the most common cause of long-term sick leave in UK businesses. Stress-related absence, in particular, has increased, with 37% of respondents to the CIPD and Simply Health Health and Wellbeing Survey saying it was up last year.” 3
But all is not lost. As individuals, there are many things we can do to combat stress and maintain our long-term mental health. We can also adopt various best practices and initiatives at work to manage stress and thrive, rather than simply survive at work.
Organizations that prioritize stress management and mental health and help their employees lead positive work lives will reap the rewards. Their teams will be happier and more engaged, and they will see a reduction in the financial consequences of stress and poor mental health.
Before we look at ways to reduce stress at work, let's look at the positive effects of stress management.
What are the benefits of stress management at work?
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A positive corporate culture.
First and foremost, if employees are happy and healthy, the entire company thrives. It becomes a positive place where job satisfaction reigns, regardless of the employee's level. -
Increased productivity.
When we feel good, we naturally have more energy. Stress can make us forget about all the positive things and lose all our motivation. When we feel less pressured, we have the will and ability to achieve more. As a result, our productivity levels increase, and we work more efficiently. -
An improvement in involvement.
When our brains aren't overloaded with information, we're more clear-headed and can truly focus on the tasks at hand. As a result, our level of engagement increases because our brains aren't clouded by negative or unwanted thoughts. -
A reduction in staff turnover.
High staff turnover is a real problem for many businesses, and it's often directly linked to employee stress levels. Whether it's poor management, workload, or other limiting factors, losing skilled people when it can be avoided leads to disruption and costs for businesses. -
A reduction in absences.
According to a report published by the CIPD in November 2021,
“Work-related stress, depression and anxiety accounted for 44% of occupational illnesses and 54% of lost working days in 2018/2019 (HSE, 2019).
Companies that are willing to implement a structured and easily accessible mental health training program for all employees will see a decrease in absenteeism rates.
The Stevenson/Farmer survey explores this point further, citing the experiences of people who have worked in such organizations.
“I have been fortunate to have had very good experiences with three different employers, two large law firms and a local government. Each time, they have been professional, supportive and treated me with respect.” Michelle Passfield. 2
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A reduction in presenteeism.
Presenteeism is the loss of productivity caused by a lack of employee engagement. They show up to the office but aren't fully engaged, and their work suffers as a result. Due to fear and stigma, many employees worry about being penalized if they take sick leave. But presenteeism has the same impact.
“Just like sick leave, poor mental health at work can lead to increased staff turnover, decreased engagement and high presenteeism.” 3
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Better long-term physical and mental health.
Prevention is always best. However, managing workplace stress can significantly prevent the long-term effects of stress, such as back problems, headaches, muscle disorders, and even cardiovascular disease. Helping employees manage their workload, decompress, and take time to breathe is extremely beneficial for their physical and mental health and well-being. -
An improvement in communication.
One of the greatest benefits of stress management is being able to communicate more effectively. Our businesses and daily lives depend on effective communication. When we're less stressed, we take the time to think about what we want to say and HOW we want to say it. This improves our professional lives, as does our personal lives. -
More harmonious relationships
By communicating better, we can improve our relationships with our colleagues and associates. We can also transform our relationships with our customers, increasing their loyalty and being a win-win situation. -
More attractive workplaces that retain and attract employees.
Reducing workplace stress fosters a great company culture that attracts potential employees and helps retain top talent. Happy and productive employees will rave about their company, explaining that it genuinely cares about its employees and helps protect and strengthen their positivity and good mental health.
How can companies quantify the benefits of stress management at work?
Fortunately, the benefits of managing workplace stress for our emotional health and well-being are unquestioned. In fact, we see that reduced stress undeniably leads to better businesses.
However, to convince companies that stress management is now a priority, and that they must invest in quality training and education for their employees, it is much more effective to quantify it in the form of return on investment.
How does this translate into economic benefits for businesses?
Deloitte has analyzed the return on investment of mental health at work, and the results are impressive:
The average return for every £1 spent was £4.20 (with a range between 40 pence and £9). (( Chapter 4 of Thriving at work: The Stevenson / Farmer review of mental health and employers ))
Where to start when managing stress at work?
Preventing stress is always better than curing it, mainly because when it becomes overwhelming, it manifests itself in many different ways. The long-term effects of stress can lead to much worse diagnoses, such as depression, anxiety, and more physical conditions, including cardiovascular disease and immune problems.
Furthermore, the stigma associated with talking about stress and mental health is a major problem. If, on the other hand, organizations take the initiative and implement effective company-wide training, education, and support networks, employees will be less afraid of retaliation for speaking out.
Here are the first five steps you can take to reap the benefits of stress management at work.
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Start open discussions with your employees.
Create trusted spaces where employees can share concerns, and regularly ask for their feedback on what's working well and what they need.
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Launch a dedicated health and wellness program accessible to all employees at all levels.
Provide appropriate training, awareness raising, and regular opportunities to talk freely to maintain good mental health and low stress levels at work.
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Designate mental health “first aiders.”
Train company employees to support their colleagues, as well as to listen and offer benchmarks for follow-up. Visit the Mental Health First Aid England website for corporate mental health training. ((Mental health support for you or your organization ))
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Establish an open and honest dialogue.
Show your employees that they are valued and that they won't be stigmatized or retaliated against for speaking out about their mental health. Stress doesn't discriminate, so raising awareness and training on this issue will encourage others to reach out for help.
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Improve work-life balance.
Give your employees more opportunities to truly disconnect from work. For example, avoid calls outside of normal working hours and discourage employees from staying late at the office to work on a project. Similarly, make sure they manage their time well if they're working remotely or from home. Finding a balance is key to improving work-life balance, productivity, and morale.
Many of us put on a brave face until it's too late. Whether out of ambition, fear, or simply loyalty to our company, we push ourselves to the limit to get the job done, but at what cost?
It's not just the cost to businesses, but the cost to human life, emotional well-being and mental health.
It's important to remember that we are not robots. We are human beings who need to recharge, rest, and rejuvenate in order to be ready for a new day.
Source documentation.
https://www.cipd.co.uk/knowledge/culture/well-being/supporting-mental-health-workplace-return#gref
https://www.greatplacetowork.dk/images/Rapport2019-2020/Stress_and_Wellbeing_v141.pdf