The majority of UK businesses now have strategies in place to deal with stress at work, according to the Institute of Directors (IoD).
Research, released to coincide with National Stress Awareness Day (today), shows that 58 per cent of IoD members have no experience of their staff suffering from stress. And 76 per cent say they have increased training and support to deal with the problem of stress at work.
Richard Wilson, head of business policy at the IoD, said: “Excessive workloads, management styles and organisational changes at work can result in stress at work.
“However, most IoD members are now taking stress seriously and are adopting sensible approaches to reduce pressure on employees. Also, the survey shows that 65 per cent of employers do not think the problem is worsening.”
Wilson said employers have a right to expect staff to be committed to their jobs, but stressed that they in turn have a responsibility to ensure that workloads are manageable.
IoD members are employing an array of measures to combat stress in the workplace, according to the survey:
– 72 per cent of businesses say they are now giving staff more responsibility
– 70 per cent are allowing staff to work from home
– 63 per cent are introducing more flexible working arrangements
– 60 per cent are giving their staff more manageable workloads
– 59 per cent are implementing a more effective appraisal process in their businesses
– 50 per cent are changing the way that they communicate with their staff.
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