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Burnout

Britain's HR Trade Body Offers Guidance on Managing Workplace Stress

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has released new guidance for HR professionals on managing workplace stress, emphasizing the importance of promoting employee well-being and self-care. The guide, which is part of a strategy to reduce sickness absence and improve performance, suggests that employers prioritize their employees' mental health by providing a supportive work environment and promoting healthy habits. The CIPD's guidance also warns employers of the dangers of "presenteeism" and "excessive hours," which can contribute to employee burnout.

Key Takeaways:

  • The CIPD's "managing stress at work" guide suggests that employers promote employee well-being and self-care by providing a supportive work environment and encouraging healthy habits.
  • The guide warns employers of the dangers of "presenteeism" and "excessive hours," which can contribute to employee burnout.
  • According to the CIPD's research, UK employees took an average of 9.4 sick days last year, up from 5.8 in 2022, with mental ill health being the top cause of long-term absence.
  • 57 per cent of organizations now have a "wellbeing strategy," up from 44 per cent in 2020, and such policies can reduce sickness absence and improve performance.
  • The CIPD recommends that employers "lead by example" and prioritize their own well-being, taking regular lunch breaks, using full leave entitlement, and avoiding "excessive hours."
  • The guide suggests that employers be aware of employees' "personal triggers for stress" and consider adding a disclaimer to emails sent outside of working hours, stating that they do not expect employees to respond or action outside of regular hours.

Statistics:

  • UK employees took an average of 9.4 sick days last year, up from 5.8 in 2022 (Source: CIPD and Simplyhealth).
  • Mental ill health is the top cause of long-term absence, accounting for 57% of cases (Source: CIPD and Simplyhealth).
  • 57 per cent of organizations now have a "wellbeing strategy," up from 44 per cent in 2020 (Source: CIPD).
  • The UK economy loses billions each year to stress-related absence and presenteeism (Source: David D'Souza, Director of Profession at the CIPD).
  • Employees who feel valued and supported tend to perform better, stay longer, and take less time off to manage health needs (Source: David D'Souza, Director of Profession at the CIPD).

Sources:

  • CIPD and Simplyhealth (no date given)
  • David D'Souza, Director of Profession at the CIPD (no date given)
  • Tanya de Grunwald, host of the This Isn't Working employment podcast (no date given)

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