Cultivating a community: Stress Awareness Month 2022

This year it seems especially appropriate to spend some dedicated time focusing on what more we can be doing to stem the “health epidemic of the 21st century”: stress. Even before the chaos of the pandemic, the rate of work-related stress, depression, or anxiety had shown signs of increasing.

Now, a 2021 report from HSE has found that 822,000 UK workers suffer from work-related stress, depression, or anxiety, and these health problems alone account for 50% of all work-related sickness in the UK.

The problem is becoming unmanageable. So what can be done?

Communication is key

The theme for this year’s Stress Awareness Month is ‘community’. Whilst having to maintain a professional environment, there are many ways that a business can also cultivate a sense of community within an office, be that in person or virtually.

Rob Shaw, SVP Global Sales at Fluent Commerce, comments: “Whilst mental health issues have been spoken about more widely in recent years, employees may find it daunting to share if they are struggling with their manager.

“Employers should create a culture where employees are able to openly discuss their feelings without fear of repercussion. Sharing online resources, having dedicated chat platforms where concerns can be shared, or having a qualified Mental Health First Aider, all help to support employees and show you are dedicated to their wellbeing”.

“And, while crucially, employee wellbeing has risen up the corporate agenda, this needs to stay front of mind as organizations continue discussions about how best to return to office life”, adds Kathy Doherty, HR Director for EMEA at Cubic Corporation.

“Central to this is creating an ongoing and compassionate dialogue with employees, whereby employers can better understand their needs and worries. No one-size-fits-all, and while a return to the office may be overwhelming for some workers, homeworking also isn’t right for everyone”.

Finding a work/life balance

‘You need to find a work-life balance’. It’s a phrase that we’re all very familiar with, but it’s far easier said than done. Gillian Mahon, chief people and places officer at Totalmobile, suggests: “Businesses can improve their employees’ quality of life both in and outside of work by implementing hybrid or flexible working policies.

Data from the 2021 UK Census revealed that 85% of employees currently working from home wanted to have a hybrid approach in future where they can work both from home and in the office. The findings also showed that ‘improved staff wellbeing’ was the main reason for businesses planning to make remote working a permanent part of their company policies.

Jen Lawrence, CPO at Tax Systems, furthers: “Flexible working is ingrained in the Tax Systems culture. It’s one thing to say that you offer it as an organization, but it’s something else when you know people are actually making use of it – that they are going to their afternoon gym class, or late lunching with friends; walking their dog mid afternoon or doing the school run – whatever it is, our vibrant working approach is there for everyone, regardless of justification.

“We all have lives, and we all experience moments of stress, so having time for the small things often makes a big difference. And by trusting our team, and showing understanding and empathy, we have employees who are happy, motivated, and committed”.

Keeping calm in IT

IT and cybersecurity are industries that see a disproportionate amount of stress. “Cybersecurity is one of the few industries (along with the likes of the military and national security services) that is constantly facing active opposition”, explains Matt Rider, VP of Security Engineering EMEA at Exabeam.

“The average security team, at all times, has a body of people actively working against them. And the stress of this is only exacerbated by the fact that this ‘champion defender’ aspect of our industry invariably attracts altruistic individuals.

“More often than not, cybersecurity professionals genuinely want to help each other, their customers, partners, vendors, even competitors (within the industry, not the adversaries!) often to their own detriment”.

“Of course, there is no job completely free of stress”, acknowledges Donnie MacColl, Director of EMEA Technical Services at HelpSystems. However, with 65% of security professionals reported to be considering leaving cyber security due to work-related stress, it’s clear that these levels cannot continue.

He continues: “In cyber security, there is no magic bullet; anyone who implies so is sorely mistaken. Cyber criminals are only getting savvier and finding new methods to infiltrate networks and wreak havoc. The role of a cyber security expert changes every day and is a never-ending back and forth between them and their adversaries”.

Stress should not be considered just a ‘normal’ part of the job and there are many things that can be done to ease the pressure put on IT teams.

Simon Spring, Senior Account Director EMEA at WhereScape argues that “making mental wellbeing a priority is important and equipping teams with the right tools and technology to do their job efficiently can help to reduce both workload and stress.”

Small actions make a big difference

Although stress has become a serious problem in our modern workplace,  “small actions — such as reminding employees to take breaks throughout the workday — make a big difference,” reminds Hugh Scantlebury, CEO and Founder of Aqilla. “Similarly, regular and informal check-ins allow employees to address any concerns. All these things can play a part in reducing stress and avoiding burnout”.

Anne Tiedemann, SVP People & Investor Relations at Glasswall suggests “practicing mindfulness is one way organizations can tackle workplace stress – it encourages us to obtain a balanced mental state by taking time out in our day to concentrate on the present moment.

“When employees take this time for themselves, even if it’s just five minutes a day, it helps them to reset their minds and let go of any stress that has built up”.

Richard Guy, Country Sales Manager UK & Ireland at Ergotron expands on this: “Promoting the belief that it’s OK to feel stressed and allowing the sharing of stress in itself is the first part of the journey to improving support for workers.

“But with workers more physically distanced, it can’t be only those hiring managers and HR leaders whose role it is to watch for signs of stress and offer help – it’s up to us all, from apprentices to the C Suite to appreciate each other, set realistic expectations of one another, notice potential signs and work to make a difference.

“As workers are choosing to work in more supportive environments, being more human at work will help to build more comfortable, safe and less stressful environments which can benefit all”.

Terry Storrar, managing director at Leaseweb UK concludes: “During challenging times, one of the most important things you can do is simply to let someone know that you are there for them no matter what. Sometimes, this can make all the difference.”