Media Coverage - 18th December 2008

Worker stress levels increased since last year
Almost half of the UK’s workforce is experiencing a higher degree of stress and anxiety compared to this time last year, research by HR training firm learnHR has claimed.

The study revealed that 38 per cent of staff feel insecure in their jobs and are concerned about redundancy. With anxiety levels rising, an estimated 20 per cent of workers will have time off work due to stress-related illness at some point over the next year, while 29 per cent of workers are already seeing a decline in their levels of productivity and efficiency.

Of the 2,000 workers surveyed, 36 per cent of UK workers are worried about paying their mortgage or rent and 49 per cent of don’t feel that they have a good work–life balance.

Workers in the West Midlands (57 per cent) and London (52 per cent) were experiencing the highest stress levels over the past 12 months. Workers in Yorkshire and Humberside felt most secure in their jobs (50 per cent) and workers in the West Midlands (43 per cent) and London (40 per cent) felt the least secure.

“Now more than ever, we need a workforce which is operating to its full potential, and it is vital that businesses recognise the role that HR and personnel departments play in rebuilding confidence and maintaining a productive workforce,” said Christine Tebbutt, Education Director of learnHR. “Organisations must invest time, resources and training in their HR personnel and line managers to ensure they have the adequate skills and support when dealing with lower levels of confidence, motivation and staff morale.”

Is your workforce affected by stress? What measures are you taking to reduce anxiety levels among employees? Email PHR’s Editor:
Kavitha Sivasubramaniam: kavitha.siva@lexisnexis.co.uk.