Work can take up such a huge chunk of people’s lives that when it gets too stressful or becomes overwhelming, it can spill over to other areas of their lives. People don’t just clock out and leave their worries at the door; well, not everyone can or is able to do this. It follows them home and steps into their personal lives. It’s there at the dinner table, when they put the kids to bed or walk the dog. And when they come back into work, they’re not the refreshed version of themselves you want or need. They’re running on fumes, and this isn’t good for the employee or the workplace.

As an employer, of course, focusing on reducing this stress and helping employees isn’t the big expensive overhaul you might think it is. It’s not offering a spa or wellness retreat once a month that hits you in the bank balance. It’s in the small changes you make that show you understand and you are there to help.

Predictable Schedules

One of the fastest ways to pile on stress for employees is unpredictable schedules. Now, there are job roles that call for this, and people should be aware of this before accepting the role. However, as much as possible, trying to keep to a consistent schedule can ease the stress. This means limiting or even eliminating last-minute scheduling where possible, having more than one employee you can rely on for shift swaps or sickness coverage, and allowing people the peace to plan their life outside work without worrying they’ll have to change it with little to no notice.

Improve Communication

A lot of workplace stress comes from people not knowing what they indeed do not want to do or what is going on within the company. Did that new policy come into force? Who is covering the empty shift on the rota? Are we getting staff? Clear communication isn’t about endless meetings updating people on every little thing; it’s about being upfront and sharing what people need to know, and ensuring no one is left in the dark. Think short weekly check-ins, communication apps, etc, so everything is in one place,

Offer Real Support

You can’t just put a poster up proclaiming you’re here to help for mental health awareness week and then not follow through; you need to do more than provide lip service towards the wellness of your employees, because people will see they’re just empty words. If you notice things are getting too stressful, you need to direct them to help and have resources in place for support. For some, this is putting an eap (employee assistance program) in place to give staff access to counselling advice and support when they need it, for others, it’s allowing flexible working options or the ability to take mental health days to relax, recharge, and regroup.

Don’t Forget The Small Stuff

A lot of stress relief in the workplace isn’t flashy. It’s allowing people to take their lunch breaks away from their desk or even the workplace without guilt. It’s allowing them to turn down extra hours or recognising when they need help and support, and doing what you can to make sure they have what they need. It’s things like saying thank you for a job well done, making sure equipment works, or people have the supplies they need to do the job. It’s about making life easier for everyone who works for you; it really can be that simple.