Stress Awareness Month | How HR can approach employee stress post-pandemic

In the workplace, it is not uncommon for employees to feel stressed at work. There are many reasons that could contribute to staff feeling more stressed with high workloads, poor management, unrealistic expectations or even financial concerns often cited as top contributors.

Research has pointed towards the big impact that unmanaged workplace stress is having on organisations. For example, IOSH Magazine reported on statistics from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) which found that more than half of Britain’s working days lost in 2019/20 were due to mental ill-health. Additionally, the research found that the rate of self-reported work-related stress, depression or anxiety was 828,000 workers in 2019 – accounting for a whopping 17.9million working days lost.

HR tips for supporting employee stress at work

For individuals, stress can have a hugely negative impact on their health and, for businesses, this could result in a huge number of working days lost. As such, and with this month marking Stress Awareness Month, it is important for employers and HR to think about how they can help to reduce stress for employees at work. Below, HR Grapevine has collated four top tips.