International Stress Awareness Day

As we reflect on International Stress Awareness day, it is important to consider that there has been a mass increase in employee demand for health and mental health support as employees struggle with work-related stress and burnout since the pandemic, from the stress and negative psychological impact of online working and virtual meetings; despite the return to the office for many, and the trend of hybrid working.

This means that added to the risk of stress and general burnout, we are now facing the specific issue of technostress.

There are some key things which can be done to reduce technostress at work:

1. Assess the risk: Employers should monitor how much extra time is spent on digital tools, especially outside of work hours, providing an indication of whether employees are struggling.
2. Raise awareness: Ensure that employees know all the signs, causes and dangers of technostress.
3. Encourage work-life balance: To avoid technostress, employees should be encouraged to switch off from work and disconnect from work, allowing them to be happier, healthier and more productive.
4. Training: Provide  sufficient, accessible resources and training for technology and mental health awareness for managers.
5. Review processes and procedures: Adjust work to avoid unnecessary workload, especially in the home-based working model. This will help to consider external stressors and factors that may not have impacted procedures and policies prior to COVID-19.
6. Reduce unnecessary communication: Minimise unnecessary communication and eliminate the expectation that people will respond all the time, helping to reduce associated stress.