10 Top Tips to Reduce Workplace Stress
Businesses are increasingly concerning themselves with the stress levels of their staff, and rightly so. Stress and anxiety can be the cause of lower levels of productivity, higher absenteeism and staff turnover, contribute to poor employer reputation in the business world and is likely to lead to poorer decision making, presenteeism and lower levels of morale. (Presenteeism – being at work for longer hours than necessary, particularly when insecure about your job or feeling that you haven’t got enough done. Often leads to lower quality of work despite longer hours.)
As employers, if you take steps to reduce stress and anxiety you can not only reverse these trends but create positive benefits including an engaged and motivated workforce who are loyal and committed to doing the best for your business – not to mention the ability to attract the best candidates out there to work for you. And the best news is… many steps are easy to implement and won’t drain your resources!
Short term stress can be beneficial but long term stress becomes counterproductive. You can encourage a mentally healthy workforce by:
1) Insisting staff take their full lunch break and leave their desk / task
a. Lead by example – don’t stay at your own desk! If they see you working they’ll feel they need to follow your lead. Walk the talk…
b. Provide or suggest lunchtime activities such as a walking group or yoga session (you could see whether
anyone on your staff could run this, or use a web-based routine / app)
c. Encourage reading – reading for just 6 minutes a day can reduce stress by up to 68% (but not their work
documents!). Maybe set up a book club, encourage reading by setting up a book swap corner or bring in some
magazines to be left in the staff room
d. Encourage regular short mindfulness, meditation or relaxation sessions. Again, a member of staff might be
keen to run this, or you could use an app or web-based session
2) Leaving work on time – another one where leading by example is important
3) Not sending emails to staff after hours
– or if you have to, make it clear that an answer is not required until
the next working day
4) Promoting Happiful magazine
– a monthly magazine devoted to positive mental health and has lots of articles, hints and tips. The digital format is free, or you could pay for a print subscription for the staff room.
5) Initiating a system of frequent, open discussions between line managers and staff about workload and stress levels.
Make it clear that high levels of stress due to work is not something your business wants, and give
your line managers the authority to make changes to an employee’s working conditions where it is of benefit to
them and fits logistically with your business (e.g. flexi time, altering starting and finishing hours, allowing a
condensed working week (fitting work into 4 long days rather than working shorter days for 5 days, for example).
You’ll often find that your employees will be more loyal, work harder and more productively for you and promote
your business more positively so it’s a win-win…
6) Training key staff in mental health first aid
to be a point of contact for colleagues who are struggling.
Facilitate time for managers to attend Mental Health in the Workplace courses where proactive actions will
help negate the need for reactive first aid – and provide time within your business to reflect on what has been
learnt and implement small cultural change to allow your workplace to become a more mentally healthy place
for your employees
7) Organising / buying in a wellbeing event. You could include elements such as:
a. Talks on managing stress
b. Short sessions on how to meditate, mindfulness, relaxation
c. Provide breakfast – fresh fruit, pastries, coffee and juice for example
d. Short pampering sessions e.g. mini hand or neck massages or manicures
e. Information on nutrition, sleep guidance, exercise (local providers may offer discounts for the opportunity to
advertise to your staff), alcohol consumption
f. Life coaching sessions
g. Complementary therapies e.g. Reiki, homeopathy, aromatherapy
8) Ensuring everyone takes their full quota of annual leave
– and that includes you!!
9) Buying into a workplace wellness programme for employees
– if they know confidential help is available they will
likely seek it earlier, minimising any negative impact on the business. This saves time, money and stress for
everyone concerned10)Making employees feel valued
:
a. A ‘big thumbs up’ in general conversation of when giving them a new piece of work – “you were so great on
that last website that I just know you’re the one who can deliver what we need for our new client”
b. Share good feedback from clients
c. Offer treats occasionally, or allow someone who’s really delivered to leave work an hour or two early on a
Friday afternoon, or attend a conference in your place
d. Just saying a simple ‘thank you, that’s a great job you’ve done there’
2018 figures show that the UK has the 5th highest number of workers reporting unmanageable stress levels – 87% feel stressed and nearly 8.2million experience anxiety. The Mental Health Foundation figures say 74% of employees report feeling stressed to the point where they are unable to cope.
YOU can do something about these figures – and make a difference not only to your employees and their families but to your business bottom line at the same time. It’s a no-brainer! Of course, not all suggestions will work logistically in all organisations, but there is always something you can do to make the situation better.
Winterbury Training can help you achieve your business mental health goals by:
• offering high quality training:
o stress, depression and anxiety awareness (suitable for all staff)
o one day first aid for mental health courses (for mental health first aiders)
o two day in-depth mental health courses (for managers)
and offering programmes specifically designed to help your organisation look proactively at improving mental
health in your business (for managers)
• organising or helping to facilitate wellbeing events either on or off site
If you would like to know more about how we can help your business, contact Carolyn on 07584 732119 or email carolyn@winterburytraining.co.uk. I’ll gladly give you 30 minutes of my time to help you create a mentally healthy workplace.
