• Support

It has been proven that an employee will start feeling stressed if they do not get appropriate information or support from superiors and colleagues. This also covers sponsorships, encouragement, and resources not given by the management or peers.

Therefore, for an organization or business to prevent this, they should introduce procedures and measures to ensure employees get the appropriate support and resources needed for their job. It does not matter the policy implemented; like holding regular support meetings or creating an HR management system to offer access to policies and documents, staff requires appropriate support. Remember, offering constructive feedback has a massive impact on an employee’s career, improving skills, and feeling supported.

Furthermore, all employees must be made aware of all support systems available within the organization. Some companies have gone further by having employee assistance programs (EAPs) whose primary goal is to offer free counseling and mindfulness advice. Other companies have internal support systems like Buddy or Mentoring systems.

• Relationships

Whenever an employee is feeling the relationship between him/her and other co-workers is not positive, he/she will begin to feel stressed. In fact, this is one of the most leading causes of workplace stress.

According to HSE, employers or business owners should promote a positive working environment to prevent conflicts; and they should be ready to deal with any undesirable behavior in the workplace, like bullying. An employee should be made free to share whenever they feel they are not having a good relationship with others. In fact, a business should have a support system to deal with individual concerns.

One way a business can promote positive relationships is by rewarding positive behavior at work. Another way is by promoting a friendly and constructive working environment. Of course, procedures and policies must be in place to prevent, promote, and resolve unacceptable behavior in workplaces. For example, having a way employees can report unfair treatment or bullying.

Another way organizations can promote positive relationships is by hosting social events like luncheons or Christmas parties. Remember, creating events that are not related to work helps promote friendships and team works.

A worker should be encouraged to connect with others and build a good support network with other colleagues and their families. With this method: in case something horrible happens to a family member of one colleague, others can come in and help to solve the problem and support them.

• Role and responsibilities

The first thing a worker comes to an organization in establishing their roles and responsibilities. If an employee does not understand their responsibilities or roles within that organization, they will begin feeling stress. The HSE encourages workers to know and understand their roles fully within an organization.

In fact, employers are encouraged to ensure employees fully know and understand their roles and requirements because it does not only help reduce stress but also boost efficiency. For this reason, property information should be provided to the staff and make them understand their responsibilities like detailed in the job description.

In a nutshell, a clear communication system must be established for employees to raise indecision or concerns that may arise due to their roles. If formal processes are not available, a worker must be encouraged to discuss expectations with the manager.

• Changes

Change is another stress-causing factor in the workplace, as identified by HSE. According to the HSE, all business-related changes must be communicated efficiently through the organization regardless of the scale. Businesses should be made to feel that any changes made in the organization engage them. Furthermore, regular communication is important. 

The staff should provide employees with the appropriate information to understand the reasons for the changes made and allow them to offer feedback on the changes. Also, staff should be informed of timetable changes, and they should have access to relevant training or support to fulfill their role.