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3 employer strategies to reduce work-related stress

The start of 2020 has been nothing short of turbulent as the coronavirus (COVID-19) spread across the UK, forcing millions of employees to fear not only for their lives and their loved ones but also their jobs. Little did we know that this nebulous disease will dramatically alter the way work is done.

Millions of employees have since been instructed to work from home to help reduce the spread of the virus in public. Those that are still commuting to work will have to follow the “new normal” rules, which means wearing protective face masks, using hand sanitizer, and maintaining social distancing.

Regardless of whether employees are working from home or at the workplace, the fear and anxiety of contracting this new disease can be overwhelming and lead to employees burning out. Inevitably, the onus is on how employers respond, mitigate, and ensure employees are protected from experiencing work-related stress.

In this article by Pacific Prime UK, we help identify what stress is, how it arises, and highlight 3 employer strategies to reduce employee stress.

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What is work-related stress?

Work-related stress can strike anyone at any level of the business or organization, which is why It’s important to understand what it is.

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), work-related stress is: “The adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or other types of demand placed on them at work.”

An important point worth mentioning here is that stress is not an illness – it is a state. But, if stress builds up gradually and becomes too excessive and prolonged, then mental and physical illness may develop.

Unfamiliar settings and arrangements can spur work-related stress

Normally, a well-designed work-environment, organized tasks, and manageable workload can help employees perform optimally. But when there’s insufficient attention or a lack of work organization, and management, then the combination can result in work-related stress for employees.

How does work-related stress develop?

Work-related stress develops because a person is unable to cope with the demands being placed on them. This is true for many millions of UK employees that have had to switch immediately from working in their office or workplace to working at home. The presence of distractions, family members, limited resources, and more have certainly made the experience too much to bear. A buildup can lead to employees not being able to focus and perform optimally. For those that are unable to find the right balance for themselves, the result would be underperformance and development of prolonged stress.

Recently, the BBC questioned 50 of the biggest UK employers about their plans and 24 firms said they did not plan to return workers to the office anytime soon. One of the main reasons given for not returning was that firms could not find a way of accommodating large numbers of staff while adhering to social distancing regulations and practices.

For those still working in their workplace, the fear that they may be made redundant may also force them to perform beyond their requirements. With fewer colleagues around to support them, this could lead them to burn out and develop mental health problems.

COVID-19 has accelerated stress rates among employees

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, work-related stress was a very real issue for tens of thousands of employees, but the COVID-19 pandemic has only accelerated the rate of stress for many more people. According to the Employee Benefits Trends study from MetLife, 60% of employees say that they are experiencing greater stress than before the pandemic started, up from 30% during the pre-pandemic levels. Roughly a third of employees that took part in the study stated that they are experiencing stress and/or burnout during the pandemic, which could lead to lower productivity, engagement and loyalty, as well well as increased absenteeism.

In another finding from the Independent, a poll by the professional networking site – LinkedIn, in partnership with the Mental Health Foundation, discovered that 56 per cent of 2,000 adults surveyed said their mental health had deteriorated since lockdown began on 23 March in the UK. Strikingly, the poll also revealed that on average, employees had been working 28 hours of overtime per month. One of the main reasons for working overtime points to employees fearing that they will be made redundant. Over the last few months, continued feelings of fear and anxiety could inevitably lead employees to burnout and develop mental health problems.

What can employers do to help reduce work-related stress?

Employers in the UK are responsible for ensuring employees are given the most optimal support and assistance when it comes to working. To that end, providing more flexibility, offering financial planning benefits, and providing access to mental health resources are 3 pivotal strategies to reduce work-related stress.

1. Introduce flexible working hours

The 9 – 5 workday has seemingly disappeared as millions of employees find themselves working from home or commuting to work with new preventative measures in place. Offering flexible working hours to employees means they can manage their time and do things as and when they feel appropriate. This can be a useful addition to an employees benefits package. It is also an attractive benefit for future talent looking for an employer that offers flexible working arrangements.

Distractions when working from home

The reality of working from home, especially for those with a young family, is that employees have to split time between working and child care duties. This includes home-schooling as well as making sure they are fed and looked after. There will also be chores and countless distractions, such as the sound of the children watching TV, the washing machine rumbling in the background, or the doorbell ringing because of food delivery. All of these are examples of what can cause any employee working from home to lose focus. But with flexible working hours, employees can manage their time, responsibilities, and attend to their needs and requirements accordingly.

Thus, employers are encouraged to be flexible and lenient during these difficult times. In turn, employees will be more grateful and may even yield better results, knowing that they can care for their family and themselves better. A win-win for all.

2. Offer financial planning benefits

The COVID-19 pandemic has strained the nation’s finances to a level not seen since the Great Depression of the 1930s. According to the Financial Times, more than one-third of UK adults in full-time employment say they are worried about losing their jobs and are feeling anxious about their finances, including bill payments and debts.

Offering financial planning is, therefore, instrumental in ensuring employees can concentrate on working and worrying less about their financial circumstances. When designing an employee benefits package, other than a corporate or group health insurance plan, employers can also include financial planning benefits. These financial planning benefits can:

  • Help employees use all of their tax allowances so they don’t pay more tax than they need to.
  • Support employees with their retirement options and even help them manage their money in retirement.
  • Give them the peace of mind that their investments are being well looked after.
  • Ensure they’re comfortable with the level of risk they’re taking when investing.
  • Provide advice on how to manage debt and create a plan to reduce any debt that has incurred during the pandemic.

The above points and much more can be offered to employees to reduce prolonged stress.

3. Access to mental health resources

According to the Mental Health Foundation, a staggering 70 million workdays are lost each year due to mental health problems in the UK, costing employers approximately £2.4 billion per year. To save costs going forward, employers can provide employees with access to mental health resources to encourage better mental wellness. These include:

Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs): Counseling programs can be offered by phone for one-to-one meetings or group meetings and include law counselling, family therapy, marital counselling, or crisis counselling. It is generally provided by a psychologist or counsellor.

Wellness programs: A wellness program can be offered to improve mental health, productivity, and potentially lower the overall cost of employer-provided healthcare. Wellness programs can also benefit employers by:

  • Lowering healthcare costs.
  • Reducing absenteeism.
  • Reducing workers’ compensation and disability-related costs.
  • Reducing injuries.
  • Improving employee morale and loyalty.

Setting up meetings either online or in-person: Employers can engage with employees more and lead from the front with specific instructions and direction. By showing leadership and being present when employees need attention, employers can learn what employees need and support them during their time working at home or in the workplace. Communication is key to delivering mental health resources and much more to reduce work-related stress.

Learn more about Pacific Prime UK’s corporate solutions

Pacific Prime UK is a division of a much bigger and global company that connects business leaders, employers, and businesses of all sizes and industries with specific corporate solutions. As the business landscape changes rapidly due to the pandemic, businesses will be looking to ensure their employees are looked after, especially their mental health.

Pacific Prime UK’s corporate solutions include employee benefits that include wellness and EAP programs to support mental health.

To learn more about Pacific Prime UK’s corporate solutions, contact us for a more in-depth discussion today!

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Content Creator at Pacific Prime UK
Jimmy is a content writer who helps simplify insurance for readers interested in international private medical insurance. He is on a mission in the UK to support locals, expatriates, and businesses by bring the latest news and updates to his Pacific Prime blog articles.

His expert view and wealth of knowledge on insurance can also be found in his blogs for the UK, China, Dubai, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
Jimmy