PD SPOTLIGHT KATHRYN FINN AND JULIA SHALLCRASS
How to reduce stress Working too long hours? Faced with impossible deadlines? Does climbing Mount Everest feel easier than dealing with the mountain of emails in your inbox? Julia and Kathryn, from KiwiBoss, look at how to tackle employee workplace stress.
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mployers must provide a workplace without undue stress, where staff can cope with the demands of their job. Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, employers have a lawful duty to take reasonable steps to ensure the health and safety of workers and protect them from harm. Failure to protect staff from harm caused by stress may result in personal grievance claims or prosecution by WorkSafe. Employee wellbeing programmes, such as free fruit and yoga at lunch are helpful, but are the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff if you are not addressing what is causing the stress in the first place. So, how can you identify and manage stressors to comply with health and safety obligations?
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HUMAN RESOURCES
WINTER 2021
Identify stress at work
Stress is linked to absenteeism, lowered productivity and workplace conflict. Many stress claims arise from work pressure and work-related conflicts like bullying and harassment. In a recent survey, the biggest causes of stress among New Zealand workers included an excessive workload, long hours, pressure to meet work targets, change in the workplace, and workplace relationships. Stress can present itself in physical changes, like headaches, stomach problems and insomnia, and emotional issues like anxiety, depression, lack of focus and irritability. Prolonged and chronic stress can lead to fatigue, burn out and physical health problems.
Managing workplace stress
Employers and managers have a duty to take appropriate steps to eliminate and minimise health and safety risks in the workplace. Some stress is unavoidable in any workplace, but you can take steps to eliminate or manage excessive workloads, dangerous work environments or workplace bullying. Select the most effective controls proportionate to the risk and appropriate to your situation.
How to identify stress at work
• Ask staff. Unsure if your staff are stressed at work? Ask them! In your regular catch ups with staff, identify any stressors and discuss ways to alleviate workplace stress. • What if your staff appear stressed but haven’t spoken to you? Arrange an informal catch up over a coffee or a walk. It’s sometimes easier to talk away from the office and any prying eyes (or ears). Start the conversation by saying something like, “I notice you don’t seem as happy as you were…”. • Encourage staff to raise stressors. Staff need to come forward and say if they are struggling because it can be difficult for employers to identify stressed staff. You can’t fix it if you don’t know about it. • Surveys and forums. Identify stressors through staff engagement surveys, health and safety committee meetings and forums.
