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Could do better: how businesses manage workplace stress

8 May 2023

Acas has issued new guidelines for employers in the wake of YouGov research that shows one in three workers say their bosses are not good at managing workplace stress.

Acas has published advice for employers on managing stress after a third of British workers (33%) reported that their organisation is not effective at managing work-related stress.

Acas commissioned YouGov to ask employees about whether they feel that their organisation is effective at managing work-related stress. The poll found that while 34% of employees felt that their workplace was effective at managing stress, 33% said employers were not doing enough.

Stress can be caused by the demands of the job, relationships at work, poor working conditions or change. Life events outside of work can also cause stress. An Acas poll in March found that 63% of employees feel stressed due to the rising cost of living.

"It is vitally important for employers to be able to spot and manage the signs of stress as it can lead to staff exhaustion, low morale and reduced productivity if it is not properly managed." Susan Clews, Acas chief executive

Signs of stress can include: poor concentration, finding it hard to make decisions, being irritable or tearful, tiredness, low mood and avoiding social events.

Acas guidance on workplace stress

  • Look out for any signs of stress among staff;
  • Be approachable, available and have an informal chat with staff who are feeling stressed;
  • Respect confidentiality and be sensitive and supportive when talking to staff about work-related stress;
  • Communicate any internal and external help available to staff.

The role of managers in workplace stress

Research by the CIPD, the professional body for HR and people development, has found a direct link between poor managers and negative mental health, job satisfaction and employee performance.

Its report, The importance of people management, draws on data from the CIPD's annual Good Work Index, which asked employees to rate their managers on a range of people management behaviours.

The findings show that:

  • 50% of workers whose managers are rated in the bottom quartile on the manager quality index say that their work has a negative impact on their mental health, compared to just 14% of workers whose managers are rated in the top quartile.
  • 39% of workers with the lowest rated managers say they are under excessive pressure at work often or always, compared to just 14% of those with the best managers.
  • 30% of people with poor managers said they are satisfied with their jobs, compared to 88% of those with the highest rated managers.

Ben Willmott, head of public policy at the CIPD, said: "This research starkly shows that poor managers that lack key people management skills can have a very negative effect on the mental health, job satisfaction and performance of the people they manage.

"It also highlights that good manager behaviour can help mitigate against people experiencing excessive workloads and stress. Managers who treat people fairly and provide effective feedback and support, while also developing their staff and helping employees to work together, are likely to have happier, healthier and higher performing teams."

Written by Rachel Miller.