Marvin OnumonuBusiness experts at the Liquidation Centre urged employers to take action during Stress Awareness Month, outlining six practical strategies to address workplace stress.
These include giving employees more autonomy, making mental health days a no-questions-asked policy, training teams on stress reduction, improving workplace design, making support systems easy to access, and clarifying roles and responsibilities.
Research showed that stress and anxiety remained leading reasons for sickness absence in the UK, with a third of bosses reporting that staff cited stress, anxiety, depression or other mental health issues as the cause.
One in five workers have taken sick leave due to stress-related mental health issues, rising to nearly two in five among 18-24 year olds.
Searches for “how to handle stress at work” increased by 250% over the past month.
Nearly two-fifths of workers reported daily stress, and the UK workforce ranked among the saddest and most disengaged in Europe.
Richard Hunt, director at Liquidation Centre, said: “Stress Awareness Month is a good moment to recognise how many people are quietly struggling at work.
“For a lot of managers and team leaders, the pressure has been building for some time, especially among younger staff and women stepping into leadership roles.
“They are often the ones checking in on everyone else, keeping teams motivated and making sure the work gets done, but it can come at a cost.”
Hunt added: “With smaller teams, tight deadlines and constant change, it is easy to feel like you are always on and never quite catching up.
“When that feeling sticks around, it starts to affect how people show up day to day.
“Motivation dips, patience wears thin and even simple tasks can feel heavier than they should.”
He said: “Stress Awareness Month should encourage businesses across the UK to slow things down and really listen.
“People do not expect perfection, they want to feel supported, trusted and able to switch off when the day is done.
“Simple things like being clear, fair and realistic can make a big difference.”
He added: “Looking after people properly is what keeps a business steady over time.
“When people feel better, they work better, and that is something every organisation depends on.”
