Mental stress in the workplace
Mental stress in the workplace is on the rise. Possible causes include, for example, increased responsibility or work intensification, the fast pace of life and current social developments, or even the fear of losing one's job. Management and corporate culture also play an important role in this regard. If the feeling of stress persists over an extended period of time, it can lead to mental illnesses such as burnout syndrome.
Mental stress in the workplace
Mental stress among employees and managers is on the rise. Reasons for this include competitive pressure, increased demands, pressure to perform, increasing digitalization, the need to be permanently available, and job insecurity. Study results show that 70% of the managers surveyed work more than 50 hours per week. One third of those surveyed do not take time for breaks during their working day, and two thirds of those surveyed would like to have more time for their family and partner. But when can we speak of mental stress and how do we deal with employees who are affected by it?
When can we speak of mental stress?
Mental stress is the totality of all detectable external pressures that have a psychological effect on a particular individual. If this stress persists and the individual in question feels that their personal coping strategies and resources are no longer helpful, this is referred to as strain. This condition is a significant risk factor for the development of mental illness. When dealing with employees who are under mental stress, it is important for managers to fulfill their leadership role, in this case their duty of care, and to talk to employees who are demonstrating unusual behaviour.
Which factors influence mental stress?
There are various ways for employers or managers to deal with cases of mental stress in a team. There are several workplace-related factors that play a role and can be actively changed.
The working environment includes physical factors such as noise, lighting, ergonomic design of the workplace, work equipment and physical activities carried out.
Relevant factors in this context include one's own room for manoeuvre, the variability and variety of the tasks to be done, necessary qualifications, responsibility and emotional demands.
Work organization includes working hours, quantitative workload, communication and cooperation requirements, workflow, and information availability.
A supportive manager, good contact with colleagues or an appreciative approach within the company can have a positive effect on mental stress or even prevent it.
New ways of working can have both positive and negative effects on employees’ levels of mental stress. For some people, working from home makes everyday life with the family much easier; for others, the reduced personal contacts may lead to a feeling of loneliness.
As an employer, you cannot influence the private lives of your employees, but it is possible to offer support in dealing with personal concerns. Coaching or Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP), for example, are ideal for this purpose and allow your employees to seek advice anonymously.
Ways to reduce mental stress in the workplace
