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The HSE statistics from 2021/22 show that 1.8 million people suffer from work related illness and out of that 914,000 were as a result of work-related stress, depression and anxiety. Although organisations are much more aware of the impact that work related stress can have on their employees it can be difficult to approach a colleague or employee if you are concerned.
There are indicators of work-related stress which organisations need to be aware of so that there can be a dialogue around stress in the workplace. Some indicators are:
- High Staff Turnover
- Increase sickness absence.
- Increase in presenteeism.
- Breakdown in working relationships between employees and management.
The signs of stress at work include:
- Feeling tense or anxious
- Being unable to relax after work
- Having trouble sleeping because you're thinking about your job too much
Causes of Stress at Work
There are a number of things that can cause stress at work. Some are more obvious than others, but they all have an impact on your mental health and wellbeing.
Workload
If you're overwhelmed with work and don't have enough time to finish it all, this can be a major source of stress for you. It's important that your workload is manageable so that you aren't feeling stressed out every day by the amount of tasks ahead of you.
Tight deadlines
Deadlines are often set by other people or external factors such as clients or customers who want their products delivered on time--but sometimes they're self-imposed by ourselves (or our bosses). Either way, having too many deadlines all at once can cause us unnecessary anxiety about getting everything done when we would rather be relaxing after work instead.
Lack of control over situation/people involved
This could lead us down an unhealthy path where we start worrying about what might happen next instead of focusing on enjoying life now.
How to Help Colleagues Who are Stressed at Work
Be supportive
You can help your colleagues by being a good listener, and not judging them for their feelings and reactions to stress.
Offer assistance
If you see that a colleague is struggling with stress at work, offer to help them find resources or strategies that will help them manage it better in the future.
Encourage breaks from work whenever possible
Taking breaks from one's responsibilities helps reduce the effects of stress on both mind and body, so encourage your colleagues to take time away from their desks when they need it most.
Suggest helpful resources if appropriate
Providing links or books about managing workplace-related stress may be helpful if your colleague doesn't know where else to turn for information on how best deal with their current situation (and also shows that you care).
When to Seek Professional Help for Stress at Work
When stress becomes overwhelming: If you're feeling like your job is the only thing in life that matters, and all other aspects of your life are suffering because of it, then it may be time to seek professional help.
When it's affecting your health: Stress can cause physical symptoms such as headaches or stomach aches, lack of sleep, that make it difficult for you to function at work, or anywhere else for that matter!
When it's affecting your relationships with others outside of work as well as within the office itself: As mentioned above, chronic stress can take its toll on both personal relationships and professional ones alike; if either one starts becoming strained because of how much time/energy/money/etc has been spent worrying about work-related problems.
Here at Rightsteps we know how important it is for employees and employers alike to manage their mental health and wellbeing to ensure they can perform at their best every day.
Our wellbeing toolkit is a scalable option for companies wanting to provide tools and support for their employees during these challenges times. If you'd like to know more about Rightsteps and how we can support your organisation, get in touch now – call 0161 238 5264 or email [email protected].