What can your HR service do for Stress Awareness Month?
What is stress awareness month?
Stress Awareness month is something that started in 1992 and it helps to make people aware of the many causes (but also cures) for our modern-day stress epidemic.
It is a great idea to use the opportunity to encourage open conversations on stress and for people to talk about any mental health issues, particularly given the current economic pressures and uncertainty right now.
What can cause stress in the workplace?
Stresses can include overworking (leading to burnout), as well as job insecurity, job dissatisfaction, or even unresolved conflicts with colleagues – some of these things are not being spoken about enough.
So, what could employers do to help manage this stress?
Firstly, it is important that managers need to be able to recognise stress in themselves to ensure they can be in any kind of position to help others.
This month, why not consider implementing a health and wellbeing policy, promoting your Employee Assistance Programme, and pulse surveys to understand what as a company you could be doing better.
Flexible working can help reduce workplace stress (the right to request flexible working will become a day 1 right this year, so it’s a good idea to start thinking about it now), as well as stress management training if possible, doing so can encourage open conversation about how people are feeling. Purely just listening is a start, ensure your employees know they have support and can come to you for support and advice.
As an employee, what can you do?
Again, being open and honest with your manager about what may be causing you stress, whilst trying to learn what your stresses are. Make sure to take time for yourself (regular breaks) and prioritise your work as having too much on at once can cause you to be overwhelmed.
For more information on mental wellbeing and stress, please take some time to look at Mind, Samaritans or the Mental Health Foundation.
Work/life balance is so important, and we understand that here at FC. A solid HR team is essential to any business, especially when talking around mental health. We understand that no two businesses are the same and know it can be challenging to navigate the complexities of HR.
At Farnell Clarke, our HR consultancy offerings can give you flexible HR support to any business no matter your size, number of employees or complexity – giving you more time to run your business and ensure your employees are happy.
We believe that satisfied, happy employees make for an efficient and profitable business. Our HR outsourcing offering can also help you create a more positive environment and work with you on improving employee engagement and people development. You can always contact us with any questions here.
