Workplace stress now accounts for around 160 million lost days per year (2012). The CBI, which identified these results, found that the conditions linked to anxiety, stress and depression are the leading cause of long-term absence.

This in itself makes up nearly 30% of all lost working time, with a cost to the UK economy of £4bn.

Stress is something employers need to take seriously. It’s not just the right thing to do, but it makes good business sense.

Supporting employees who are suffering from stress can be a minefield, however, these tips are a good starting point.

1. Prioritise education on coping with stress

Everyone responds to stressful situations differently.  What one person may perceive as stressful; another may perceive it as motivating. Stress is a spectrum and there is no way of knowing how an individual is going to cope with stressful situations.

Arm your workforce with the knowledge and tools of how to cope and reduce their stress. 

Educational sessions in the form of guest talks or webinars are a great and effective way to share knowledge and tips. It also shows people you care about them, supports wellbeing, reduces absenteeism, improves morale, and improves overall productivity.

2. Offer employee benefits and perks

Well-being initiatives have taken on great importance for employees. They are also very attractive to potential candidates when you’re hiring.

Stress-alleviating benefits and perks may include access to meditation apps, regular time off or childcare assistance. Your benefits should suit your employee's work and home life so they can find a balance to relax and reduce stress.

3. Be conscious of employee workloads

One of the most common causes of stress in the workplace includes excessive amounts of work and unrealistic deadlines that make people feel rushed, under pressure and overwhelmed.

Keep track of how much your employees are taking on and the pressure that they may feel. Reduce employee workload pressure when possible. Educate your employees on how to prioritise their workloads and encourage balance. This will enhance productivity and reduce stress.

If someone is feeling overwhelmed by their workload, it’s worth considering what can be changed to help the individual. This could be hiring someone else to assist them or distributing the work to other people in the team.

4. Allow flexible working

Stress is not always caused by work. Sometimes our stress at work is influenced by outside-of-work stress, such as care and financial responsibilities.

For example, parents may experience increased stress if they are worried about who is going to pick their child up from school. Allowing people to work flexibly enables situations like this to be resolved. Be an employer who shows maturity and empathy.

A UK study showed that more than half of employees who currently have the choice to mix remote and office work would consider quitting their job if this was taken away.

Clearly, if you want to attract and retain the best people, this is something worth considering. With the majority of companies now offering flexibility, it’s no longer a perk and a necessity if you want to stay competitive.

5. Recognise and reward your employees

It can be stressful to work extremely hard for a company to not feel recognised and rewarded. If you want to reduce stress, increase engagement, and increase retention, recognising and rewarding your employees is an extremely effective way to do this. Never underestimate the importance of appreciation.