27 Oct Signs and Effects of Stress in the Workplace
Absence and sick days are costing industry billions of pounds a year. Therefore, it is beneficial to be able to recognise the early signs of stress. As a result, you can respond to the individual’s and organisation’s needs before it gets too bad. Stress doesn’t just affect the individual. Importantly, effects of stress in the workplace can impact many aspects of your organisation as a whole. The following article discusses the different signs of stress in the workplace and the impact this can have.
If you would like to have a conversation for how I can support you to improve the overall wellbeing for your organisation please contact me.
Compromised Health
Compromised health can increase the number of sick days taken and it has been suggested these numbers are increasing. Data published in the latest research report from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD ) has stated that the annual costs of sickness absence for UK businesses is estimated at around £550 per employee. Importantly, in 2018/19, work related stress, depression or anxiety accounted for 44% of all work related ill health and 54% of working days lost. Increased adrenaline and cortisol impacts health. For instance, it can compromise sleep patterns, the immune system weakens which means you can be vulnerable to viruses and infection. Above all, long term stress can result in increased blood pressure, diabetes and other illnesses. We can just imagine what the figures will be in 2020/21.
Affected Professional Relationships
Relationships can be affected by stress in a number of ways because it becomes more challenging to keep relationships healthy. Firstly, you can withdraw, become snappy or are distracted. Secondly, an increased lack of trust between individuals and teams can develop. Thirdly, more conflict can occur. Fourthly, a focus on individual performance rather than team/organisational performance can prevail. Fifthly, people in authority might seem like the attackers. Lastly, individuals might become more needy or dependent on those around them. Therefore, they might find it hard to respond in an appropriate professional manner. In conclusion, the cohesion of the teams reduces and can completely errode.
Reduction of Energy
This can have a big impact on all areas of life. For instance, can result in cutting out activities that can help reduce stress. For example, exercise, socialising and completing the tasks needed to be working on.
Reduced Creativity, Interest and Motivation
Whether relating to work or personal life, this has direct impact on productivity. It means that it can reduce the purpose of activity and losing connection with the people around you and reducing emotional wellbeing.
Disorganisation
This means that effectiveness reduces greatly. The result can impact productivity. For instance, achieving a healthy work/life balance and a general ability to prioritise and complete tasks becomes difficult.
Less Commitment, Loyalty and Enjoyment
As stress builds over time, life becomes overwhelming and loses its enjoyment. In other words smallest challenges can be perceived as a huge drama and resilience reduces. Above all this means the challenges others might see as exciting can become scary, intimidating and too much hassle.
To avoid your organisation being affected by stress, be proactive in preventing your employees from becoming overwhelmed by stress, rather than being reactive. Most importantly, being reactive can cost your business vast amounts of money. Focusing on the wellbeing and mental health of your employees means that you can consider what the barriers might be for your teams to flourish. For instance, put plans in place to ensure they thrive rather than just survive. Above all, ensure there is a culture of looking out for each other. In other words, it is not a luxury, but a necessity if you aim for your business to flourish too.
Please contact me to have a conversation about how I can help you to create a wellbeing plan for your business. Ensure productivity, motivation and job satisfaction is a priority to all that work with you.