8 Ways to Manage Employee Stress

Mental health is a significant issue that employers are currently facing. Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, employee stress levels were at an all-time high. A survey conducted by Perkbox UK in 2020 found that 79% of working adults in the UK experience stress at work.

The most common causes of work-related stress according to the survey are business-related policies (37%), lack of communication between departments (34%), and concerns about the performance of others (33%). Other common sources of stress include financial worries (60%) and family-related stress (48%).

8 ways to reduce employee stress

Provide frequent feedback: In addition to annual evaluations, consider offering daily feedback to show your appreciation and reduce stress. Structured one-on-one conversations can also be helpful.

Encourage use of vacation time: Remind employees to take their annual leave, and try to accommodate any requests for leave that couldn’t be taken due to the pandemic. Avoid work-related communication during this time.

Find the right balance: Hybrid work arrangements and flexible scheduling, including the option to work from home, can help employees maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Reduce travel stress: If commuting is a source of stress, consider temporarily transitioning to remote work or offering different start or end times to allow for off-peak travel.

Manage workloads: To prevent overloading your team, consider hiring temporary staff during busy periods and setting realistic goals. Remember that even the best employees have limits.

Promote diversity: To prevent boredom, consider giving employees the opportunity to diversify their roles by learning new skills in different departments or training programs. Even something as simple as rearranging the workspace can be beneficial.

Simplify processes: If cumbersome procedures or a lack of autonomy are causing stress, review and streamline them as much as possible. Empowering employees by giving them more control and trust can be highly motivating.