Stress causing high levels of sickness absence and higher levels of presenteeism

Stress is the most common cause of long-term sickness absence within from the workplace according to a recent CIPD/Simply health survey. The new figures reveal for the first time that stress causes the majority of serious health problems for both manual and non-manual workers and the survey also found that companies planning redundancies are significantly more likely to see an increase in mental health problems among employees.

Employees Report They Are Too Stressed to Be Effective and this is from a ComPsych Survey. Two-thirds of workers report high stress levels, affecting their ability to be productive. Employees continue to be stressed, with two-thirds stating high stress levels and 29 percent coming to work when they are too stressed to be effective on five or more days per year.

I have found that many people are worried about their jobs and how they can manage financially which leads to excessive pressure and stress. However, many organisations are finding that sickness absence is a problem but a more significant problem is presenteeism.

Presenteeism is the loss in productivity that occurs when staff comes to work but function at less than full capacity because of ill health and this can be due to stress or pressure. However, it is difficult to measure, but there is now international evidence which is highlighting its scale.

When employees go to work and are not performing due to stress how are they managed? This is an area where the employee not only requires support but may require professional help. A manager should be able to speak confidentially to the employee but is the manager the problem?

Some areas which can help individuals or managers at work are:

• In life we always have choices and sometimes we do not wish to make a hard choice.
• If work is making you ill is it not time to sit up and take notice?
• Is it someone within your team who is causing you to feel under stress? Try and speak to them or speak to your manager, HR, occupational health or trade union before the situation gets worse and it has a long-term impact on your health.
• Do you stay in a job that is making you ill?
• Look at your current job objectively and find out what is making you feel so stressed and identify if there is anything that can change or ask for a change in your current job (a small change can make a big difference).
• Do you have the right skills for the job and if not, consider some training.
• Change to another job if at all possible or go to another department.
• Each individual has the power to change and make changes – it is not easy but it can be done with being positive and to be objective.
• Aim to look at a negative and change it to a positive, this can help to alleviate some of that pressure.

All managers should be trained on Managing Stress so that they are able to identify stress and be able to manage it effectively.

Jessica Smyrl is the founder of Your Stress Management and helps businesses to prevent stress and improve wellbeing. 

www.yourstressmanagement.co.uk