It's National Stress Awareness Day today and as a workplace Counsellor I thought it was a good chance to share some thoughts on workplace stress and counselling.
All too often we consider occupational health issues as being 'physical' conditions such as RSI, or Vibration White Finger but stress is one of the most common conditions in the UK and it can have devastating effects on employees. In previous work I've seen Train Drivers traumatised by suicides, counselled staff who've lost close colleagues and also worked with people for whom workplace issues have taken over their lives. Others find themselves unable to cope at work due to issues outside the work environment - I'm currently working with someone who has coped admirably with a number of issues but now her husband i
All too often employers only deal with stress when the employee reaches the point where they can't go on any more. Sadly often there have been very clear signals that 'all was not right' but mental health issues are often viewed as a sign of weakness, or scary, freaky, unnerving and as a result employers may choose to ignore the issue at the point when minor interventions could resolve or minimise the issue. And it's not just about how the employee feels - stress is estimated to cost business in the UK some £60bn or about £1,000 per man, woman and child. Research has shown that 5 million workers have taken a day off work because of stress, and some take a lot more - with those most affected finding that they simply can't cope with work any more.
By promoting psychological wellbeing for employees they are more likely to perform effectively. The theme for today is ‘Going the Extra Mile’ – which is what happens when organisations are stress free. The energy, enthusiasm, motivation and concentration in a stress free environment, provokes people to have greater interest in others and to contribute more, according to the ISMA.
Data revealed in a study by Friends Life shows that a major cause of stress in the younger generation is fear of redundancy, which was cited by 36% - a higher percentage than those who fret over sustaining a life-changing injury. It also found that worries around job security are a concern for this age group, at 52%. Other concerns among 18-24 year olds are money (35%) and work (22%).
Make today a stress free day at work and enjoy the positivity which results!
All too often we consider occupational health issues as being 'physical' conditions such as RSI, or Vibration White Finger but stress is one of the most common conditions in the UK and it can have devastating effects on employees. In previous work I've seen Train Drivers traumatised by suicides, counselled staff who've lost close colleagues and also worked with people for whom workplace issues have taken over their lives. Others find themselves unable to cope at work due to issues outside the work environment - I'm currently working with someone who has coped admirably with a number of issues but now her husband i
All too often employers only deal with stress when the employee reaches the point where they can't go on any more. Sadly often there have been very clear signals that 'all was not right' but mental health issues are often viewed as a sign of weakness, or scary, freaky, unnerving and as a result employers may choose to ignore the issue at the point when minor interventions could resolve or minimise the issue. And it's not just about how the employee feels - stress is estimated to cost business in the UK some £60bn or about £1,000 per man, woman and child. Research has shown that 5 million workers have taken a day off work because of stress, and some take a lot more - with those most affected finding that they simply can't cope with work any more.
By promoting psychological wellbeing for employees they are more likely to perform effectively. The theme for today is ‘Going the Extra Mile’ – which is what happens when organisations are stress free. The energy, enthusiasm, motivation and concentration in a stress free environment, provokes people to have greater interest in others and to contribute more, according to the ISMA.
Data revealed in a study by Friends Life shows that a major cause of stress in the younger generation is fear of redundancy, which was cited by 36% - a higher percentage than those who fret over sustaining a life-changing injury. It also found that worries around job security are a concern for this age group, at 52%. Other concerns among 18-24 year olds are money (35%) and work (22%).
Make today a stress free day at work and enjoy the positivity which results!
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