How to Identify and Manage Workplace Stress

Are you struggling from workplace stress? Well, you’re not the only one – 3 in 5 Brits (59%) are currently feeling stressed out by their job. With the classic 9-5 gradually shifting towards regular over time, and an increasing habit of working from our phones outside of the workplace – it’s no 54% of Brits have trouble sleeping because of work.

To help raise awareness of this workplace issue, Workwear Giant have uncovered which job sectors are most likely to have high stress levels, and also how to identity when a work colleague is stressed out.

Work-related Stress Accounts for 57% of British Sick Days

In 2018, workplace related stress accounted for more than half (57%) of sick days within Britain – amounting to 15.4 million workdays in total. Although this is really damaging to the employee, it also has a detrimental effect on the employer.

With work-related stress on the rise, employee retention is currently at an all-time high – almost half (46%) of Brits are currently searching for a new job because of the stress from their job.

The Job Quality Index

With the average Briton spending 3,507 days at work over their lifetime – it’s important to enjoy to your job. To help uncover which jobs are the most and least stressful, Workwear Giant have created the Job Quality Index. Made up of three dimensions – earnings, stress levels and unpaid overtime – each job sector has been scored out of 5 for each dimension, whilst using the national averages as a comparison.

As of April 2019, the national averages are as stands:

· National average wage – £24,000 per annum

· National average cases of stress – 1,320 cases per 100,000 people

· National average unpaid overtime – 7.5 hours a week

So, how does your job compare? Read on to discover.

Top 5 Most Stressful Job Sectors

The results are as follows:

Teaching & Education Professionals
· Earnings – £25,692 p/a (£1,692 more than the national avg) = 3/5

· Stress – 3,020 reported cases of stress per 100,000 people (1,700 cases more than the national avg) = 2/5

· Unpaid overtime – 12.5 hours a week (5 hours more than the national avg) = 1/5

· Total Score = 6/15

Welfare Professionals
· Earnings – £34,200 p/a (£10,200 more than the national avg) = 4/5

· Stress – 4,080 cases of stress per 100,000 people (2,760 cases more than the national avg) = 1/5

· Unpaid overtime – 8.6 hours a week (1.1 hours more than the national avg) = 2/5

· Total Score = 7/15

Housing Association Professionals
· Earnings – £24,012 p/a (£12 more than the national average) = 3/5

· Stress – 3,050 cases of stress per 100,000 people (1,730 cases more than the national avg) = 2/5

· Unpaid overtime – 8.6 hours a week (1.1 hours more than the national avg) = 2/5

· Total Score = 7/15

Legal Professionals
· Earnings – £69,992 p/a (£45,992 more than the national avg) = 5/5

· Stress – 3,040 cases of stress per 100,000 people (1,720 cases more than the national avg) = 2/5

· Unpaid overtime – 9.6 hours a week (2.1 hours more than the national avg) = 2/5

· Total Score = 8/15

Customer Service
· Earnings – £20,735 p/a (£3,265 less than the national avg) = 2/5

· Stress – 2,770 cases of stress per 100,000 people (1,450 cases more than the national avg) = 3/5

· Unpaid overtime – 0 hours a week (7.5 hours less than the national avg) = 5/5

· Total Score = 10/15

Top 5 Least Stressful Job Sectors

Managers, Directors & Senior Officials
· Earnings – £43,425 p/a (£19,425 more than the national avg) = 5/5

· Stress – 1,200 cases of stress per 100,000 people (120 cases less than the national avg) = 4/5

· Unpaid overtime – 9.2 hours a week (1.7 hours more than the national avg) = 1/5

· Total Score = 10/15

Admin & Secretarial Occupations
· Earnings – £23,207 p/a (£793 less than the national avg) =2/5

· Stress – 1,310 cases of stress per 100,000 people (10 cases less than the national avg) = 4/5

· Unpaid overtime – 0 hours a week (7.5 hours less than the national avg) = 5/5

· Total Score = 11/15

Cleaners & Labourers (Elementary)
· Earnings – £20,030 p/a (£3,970 less than the national avg) = 2/5

· Stress – 780 cases of stress per 100,000 people (540 cases less than the national avg) = 5/5

· Unpaid overtime – 0 hours a week (7.5 hours less than the national avg) = 5/5

· Total Score = 12/15

Process, Plant & Machine Operatives
· Earnings – £25,480 p/a (£1,480 more than the national avg) = 3/5

· Stress – 630 cases of stress per 100,000 people (690 cases less than the national avg) = 5/5

· Unpaid overtime – 0 hours a week (7.5 hours less than the national avg) = 5/5

· Total Score = 13/15

Skilled Tradesmen
· Earnings – £27,279 p/a (£3,279 more than the national avg= 3/5

· Stress – 600 cases of stress per 100,000 people (720 cases less than the national avg) = 5/5

· Unpaid overtime – 0 hours a week (7.5 hours less than the national avg)= 5/5

· Total Score = 13/15

How to Identify and Manage Workplace Stress

If your occupation lies within the ‘top 5 most stressful job sectors’ – don’t worry. There are ways to identify the symptoms of being stressed, and therefore manage it. Some of the most common signs include:

· Worrying – i.e. constantly asking questions or being concerned about upcoming deadlines.

· An inability to concentrate

· Having difficulty making decisions, especially with simple ones

· Being less creative

· Getting irritated easily

· Being tearful

· Having sleep problems

· Suffering from headaches

If you are an employer or manager and believe a team member is suffering from stress, it’s vital to talk to the employee and find out the cause of their stress. Once you have identified the problem you can then find a solution that can be agreed on.

Most issues can always be solved and there is always help if you need it, such as a GP or talking to a charity like Mind. As well as this you should encourage your team to talk to a manager if they believe they’re suffering from stress or becoming mentally unwell.

How to Identify and Manage Workplace Stress

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