5 ways to prevent stress and burnout in your teams
When an employee faces high levels of workplace stress, they can lose approximately 55 working days in productivity per year.1 Here are five ways HR leaders can spot early signs of burnout and build a company culture which mitigates against it.
How stressed out do you feel right now? What about those around you? If the answer is ‘very’, you’re not alone. According to the latest TELUS Health Mental Health Index, one-third (33 per cent) of UK workers are feeling more sensitive to stress than they did pre-pandemic. Things are particularly acute for those under 40 (70 per cent are more sensitive to stress), parents (60 per cent) and managers (40 per cent).
Work-related stress today is a “massive problem”, says Paula Allen, global leader, research and client insights at TELUS Health. While the trauma of the pandemic is a major driver, there are additional reasons for this spike in anxiety. “Human beings don’t like change,” Allen explains. “And there’s been a huge amount of disruption in recent years. The pace of change has been accelerating, and the demands of the workplace are increasing.” It’s a perfect storm for stress.
This is leading to significant organisational impacts. There is a strong correlation between stress and poor productivity. According to the TELUS Health index, workers who report their primary source of work stress as their manager relationship lose 55 working days in productivity per year, and those who are anxious about losing their job lose 54 working days. High levels of stress can lead to increased churn: 10 per cent of those thinking of quitting say increased strain at work is the main reason for doing so.
