Page 20 - Gi_August2019

STRUNG OUT

A rise in stress levels at work is being linked to poor management,
according to a new report from CIPD and Simplyhealth

early two-fifths of UK interpret this finding as a progressive “These two trends alone could be
businesses (37 per cent) have step. In some organisations, better artificially contributing to a drop in
seen an increase in stress- attendance will indeed reflect a more sickness absence levels while masking
related absence over the last effective approach to well-being more deeper-seated organisational
N year, with heavy workloads if fewer people are going off sick issues that could be undermining
and poor management style to blame, because they feel healthier and better people’s health and well-being at work,
according to a new report from the supported by their employer, which is such as unmanageable workloads
CIPD and Simplyhealth. a positive development. (again, by far the greatest cause of
The research, which surveyed 1,078 “However, the drop in the headline stress according to respondents).”
people professionals, shows that stress absence rate across UK workplaces The annual Health and Well-Being at
is a growing problem in UK workplaces. comes with a caveat. Last year, we Work Survey Report uncovers evidence
Sixty-two per cent of respondents say emphasised the pressing need for of more unhealthy trends in the
having heavy workloads, which can be organisations to look much deeper workplace linked to stress.
attributed to poor management, is the than sickness absence levels to The report reveals that many
top cause of stress-related absence. understand what is driving people’s managers aren’t receiving the training
The second biggest contributing factor behaviour, attendance and wellbeing. they need to spot and help manage
is management style, which has risen This principle holds true for 2019, and these unhealthy practices among their
from 32 per cent to 43 per cent in the is backed up by a number of findings. staff. For example, only 50 per cent of
last year. managers have undergone training to
The worrying increase in Only 50 per cent of managers support their staff to better manage
management style as a key cause of have undergone training to stress and out of the minority of
workplace stress highlights the need organisations taking action to tackle
for businesses to invest properly in support their staff to better leaveism and presenteeism, only 37 per
management training, as well as wider manage stress and out of the cent of managers have been trained to
well-being initiatives. minority of organisations spot the warning signs of either. Less
Professor Sir Cary Cooper CBE, than a third of respondents say that
President of the CIPD, said: “Overall, taking action to tackle leaveism senior leaders encourage a focus on
the findings reflect employers’ and presenteeism, only 37 per mental well-being through their actions
growing recognition of their critical cent of managers have been and behaviours.
role in improving the health of the trained to spot the warning Rachel Suff, Senior Employment
working age population. There are Relations Adviser at the CIPD, said:
some indications that employee well- signs of either “These findings represent a serious
being is receiving increased attention failure by senior leaders given that
compared with last year, which is “For example, this year’s results managers play a vital front-line role in
cause for optimism. again confirm the rising culture of supporting staff with their health and
“For example, we are encouraged ‘presenteeism’ in UK workplaces, well-being. Managers should be the
that mental health is a stronger and most organisations are doing first port of call if an employee wants to
focus of organisations’ well-being nothing to discourage this unhealthy discuss a health condition and are also
activity. The evidence also suggests a behaviour. And yet the emerging best placed to spot the early warning
tentative trend towards a more holistic evidence points to presenteeism signs if someone is struggling to cope.
approach, with most organisations as potentially more harmful for “Aside from not receiving adequate
reporting that their activity is designed individuals and business than training or guidance, many senior
to promote good work, collective and sickness absence. In a similar vein, leaders haven’t done enough to get
social relationships, physical health the majority of organisations have managers to buy into the importance
and supportive values/principles. observed some form of ‘leaveism’ over of well-being. Only half of respondents
“The average level of employee the past 12 months, with over a third say this is true of managers, raising
absence (5.9 days per employee per reporting that employees use allocated questions about how fairly and
year) is the lowest ever recorded time off (such as holiday) when in fact consistently they can implement their
by this survey, and many will also they are unwell. organisation’s health and well-being

20

StressAtWork.indd 1 18/07/2019 14:51