National Stress Awareness Day, observed on November 6th, promotes a better understanding of stress and how to prevent it.
One of the key aspects of National Stress Awareness Day is the emphasis on identifying the signs of stress. Common symptoms include:
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating.
By acknowledging these signs, employers can take proactive steps to mitigate stress. If you have an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) in your workplace, then encourage your employees to use this as much as possible, EAPs may offer stress management workshops, mindfulness practices, and relaxation exercises to support employees in managing stress more effectively.
Employers are required by law to protect employees from workplace stress. Making sure that demands are in line with workers’ abilities and expertise might help with this, as employees frequently experience stress when they are overworked or underqualified. Employers are accountable for providing the necessary preparation, instruction, and assistance to ease pressure and lower stress levels.
Employers are required by law to:
- Conduct stress risk assessments and take appropriate action.
- Take action to avoid stress at work.
Organisations with five or more employees are legally obligated to document the risk assessment; those with less than five employees are exempt from this requirement, albeit it is helpful to do so for future review.
An employee’s stress level is rising daily, so it’s important to address it at work and encourage them to talk to someone about it, whether that be their line manager, themselves, or a general practitioner. Early intervention is crucial, and it may be as easy as cutting back on the workload to make it easier for your staff to handle.
If stress is a concern in your workplace, or if you would like to know more about the Employee Assistance Programme, then contact our Team on 0345 646 0406 or fill in our online enquiry form and one of our HR Consultants can support you.