Work-related stress issues lead to less engagement, more day-to-day physical health problems and a higher likelihood of day-to-day psychological health problems, according to research by wellbeing specialists Robertson Cooper.
The research, which coincides with National Stress Awareness Day on 7 November, found that, of the 47% of respondents who have encountered a major stressful event in the past six months, 30% of these were work-related.
Professor Ivan Robertson, co-founding director of Robertson Cooper, said: “Challenging, demanding work is healthy and enables people to get a sense of achievement. Work that creates major stress is not healthy. It damages people and their productivity.
“As the evidence continues to grow on the effects of stress, it was no surprise to find that both sets of respondents who had encountered a major stressful event scored significantly less on all measures of health and wellbeing when compared to those who have not encountered a major stressful event.”
Another piece of research published to coincide with National Stress Awareness Day by life insurance and pension provider Friends Life, found that one-third (32%) of respondents have called in sick due to stress in their working life. Of these, more than half (52%) have called in sick due to stress in the last year.
David Williams, director of group protection at Friends Life, said: “There is still much work to be done to ensure that stress caused by the working environment is recognised as a serious condition that impacts on the wellbeing of the individual and the productivity of the [organisation].
“Employers need to be ever vigilant and prepared for signs of stress so measures can be taken early to help employees feeling under strain. By taking these steps, it can have a positive impact for business productivity and employee wellbeing.”
In tandem with National Stress Awareness Day, Robertson Cooper has launched an online community called Good Day at Work to help employers and wellbeing professionals learn, share experiences and drive change.
Professor Cary Cooper, co-founding director of Robertson Cooper, said: “We know the theory of what creates a Good Day at Work, the six essentials of workplace wellbeing, resilience, good leadership, and we know the positive effects it has on individuals and organisations.
“Putting this into practice is not always easy, nor is it just a job for HR. Individuals, managers and senior leaders in all teams have a responsibility for the wellbeing of themselves and others. Good Day at Work is here to support everyone to do exactly that. It’s about learning, sharing experience and driving change.”
The first step to dealing with stress and mental illness is recognising it exists and how common it is. Mental health remains a taboo subject and this is the biggest barrier.
Early intervention and putting the right coping mechanisms in place are very important to nip symptoms in the bud, which is why awareness among individuals and employers alike is critical.
It’s been a difficult year and added pressures within the workplace means they are a breeding ground for stress, resulting in more and more days lost due to work-related ill health. There is strong link between a healthy workforce and a healthy bottom line, and National Stress Awareness Day is a great opportunity for employers to recognise the wellbeing of their staff, either by facilitating stress-busting activities or seeking further information on how to implement a longer-term wellbeing plan.
National Stress Awareness Day reminds us how damaging stress can be and it provides the perfect opportunity to promote and assess the wellbeing of staff all around the world. In particular, working abroad may cause stress in itself, so it is crucial that no risks are taken when it comes to health.
It is also important for expats to ensure that they have the right healthcare package in place so that they and their loved ones are not left vulnerable should the worst happen. The quality and cost of medical cover abroad varies considerably and it is worth remembering that sourcing medical or physiological help in foreign countries can often prove more difficult than we’re used to in the UK.
“Furthermore, with healthcare inflation running at an all time high, it has never been more important to check the small print. Often employees moving overseas underestimate the amount of cover they will need. For many, working abroad will be a big life decision and it is important that people can enjoy their time overseas, safe in the knowledge that they are covered.”
There was an interesting article on Stress/Well-being & Mental Silence in the Sydney Morning Herald – makes interesting reading – the links are on the bottom of this web page: Search: http://www.sahajayogalondon.co.uk – also there is a interview from Sunrise TV -in Australia again the link is at the bottom of that page. It’s FREE – Quite interesting