Stress threatening UK productivity

Employees are more stressed than a year ago and management failure to address this could have a prolonged impact on productivity, claims research released today by Investors in People UK.

The research, conducted by YouGov, reveals over a third (38 percent) of employees in the UK say stress levels at work are higher than a year ago – but less than one in three (29 percent) believe their organisation is doing anything to help them manage this.

Simon Jones, Chief Executive of Investors in People, said: “Increased stress in the workplace is associated with reduced productivity. Our research suggests that management has so far not addressed the current increase in workplace stress. The longer the problem is ignored, the more it could impact on productivity at a time when the UK economy needs a boost.”

Currently the research suggests managers may not only be failing to deal with workplace stress but could be making matters worse. Nearly half (43 percent) of stressed employees said a lack of confidence in management had contributed to an increase in stress levels. Meanwhile, only five percent of employees said they are receiving more support from their managers than they did before the downturn. Only 12 percent think their manager has adapted very well to the effects of the downturn.

The research also revealed that experience can make a difference to workplace stress. 84 percent of employees over 55 years old have experienced a downturn before, compared with just over half (52 percent) of all employees. The research found these older employees are coping with stress better than younger ‘recession virgins’.

Simon added: “We urge managers to respond proactively to the recession, to gain the confidence of their employees by providing support for them during this period of uncertainty.”

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