How to Help Employees Manage Anxiety at Work
Workplace anxiety is not just a buzz-word – it’s a common condition, and one which many British workers experience. Anxiety at work might take on the form of struggling with daily work tasks or possibly even causing absences from work.
In fact, workplace anxiety contributes to a yearly total cost of £28.3 billion in lost working days. For employers, keeping the workforce happy and healthy is an essential part of effective business. By understanding how to better manage anxiety at work, you can support both the general and mental health of your employees.
In this article we will look at what work related anxiety is, common work anxiety symptoms, how you can help support someone with anxiety as an employer, as well as what self-help methods can be used to help manage anxiety at work.
What causes workplace anxiety?
Anxiety at work can be caused by a range of things, but it typically stems from people feeling out of control with certain aspects of their work life. For example, the Mental Health Foundation found that 60% of 18 to 24 year olds and 41% of 25 to 34 year olds feel pressured to succeed, and this excessive pressure can cause an increase in work anxiety symptoms.
However, it’s not just feeling out of control with progression that can cause work related anxiety. Other causes of anxiety at work include:
Worrying about work performance.
Giving presentations.
Stagnation in progression.
Poor management.
Concerns about redundancy.
Speaking during meetings.
Workplace harassment or bullying.
Relationships.
Many workplaces may already be aware of the main signs of anxiety at work, with this in mind, it’s best to speak directly to your workforce about what may be causing them to experience anxiety at work. This’ll help you manage the potential causes of current work related anxiety, as well as minimise any future cases.
What are the symptoms of workplace anxiety?
Symptoms of workplace anxiety are similar to those of everyday anxiety; however, they can appear in slightly different ways.
Both anxiety and work related anxiety can leave people feeling restless, nervous, nauseous, and tired despite a full night’s sleep, albeit with workplace anxiety being directly attributable to work and the workplace. Additionally, members of staff with work related anxiety may experience excessive sweating, trembling, and increased heart rate.
Typically, people with work related anxiety may find it difficult to speak up about their struggles in work, as anxiety can make people feel worried about judgement from others. However, work anxiety symptoms can manifest in other noticeable ways, such as:
- Reduction in work production.
- Lack of ability or desire to progress.
- Increase in time off or sick leave.
- Lack of concentration in meetings.
- Shying away during meetings or lunches.
- Physical pains such as stomach or head pain.
As an employer, it’s important to be aware of work anxiety symptoms, as this will allow you to identify anyone who might be struggling.
How can I support workers experiencing anxiety at work?
Minimising the impact workplace anxiety can have within your workforce is all about ensuring your employees feel valuable, supported, and listened to.
Try to be proactive with managing anxiety at work and think of other ways you may be able to help within your specific work environment. The following steps can help you care for your people who may struggling with work related anxiety:
1. Educate your workforce
If you notice people in your workforce struggling with anxiety about performance and are exhibiting any signs of workplace anxiety, then a natural next step is to get them – and yourself – educated.
You may want to hold sessions to discuss what workplace anxiety is and the different scenarios that may cause or increase symptoms of it. You should also provide your employees with resources for where they can receive both internal and external help. Feeling supported and knowing where they can go for help can alleviate work anxiety symptoms.
2. Create a safe environment
When someone does experience work anxiety symptoms, it’s important they know they can speak up about it.
Work related anxiety is a personal struggle, with people potentially not feeling comfortable discussing it in a room full of peers and colleagues. To remedy this, try letting the workforce know your office is always open, should they need a chat, advice, assistance, or help with managing anxiety at work.
You can also develop a health and well-being strategy to manage anxiety at work. To do this, start by speaking to your employees to outline any issues causing work related anxiety that you may not be aware of. This can help you piece together a strategy that works for the majority of the workforce, ensuring people feel safe and happy with their roles.
3. Remind staff of employee benefits
Many businesses have an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), where people can access a series of benefits that may be useful for managing anxiety at work.
Should your business have an EAP in place, it can be helpful to remind everyone of the related benefits they have access to. Usually, employees can use these benefits to help cover the likes of private therapy or life coaching sessions, both of which are great to alleviate workplace anxiety. EAPs are straight forward to set up as well:
First, assess the needs of your workforce by asking them what they are struggling with both in and out of work.
Then, use the information to help inform the type of EAPs that will help your workforce the most. It’s also a good idea to look at your company’s resources to see whether it’s possible to set up an internal EAP or if you should consult a third party to handle it.
Now you know the type and scale of EAP you will need to help your workforce manage workplace anxiety, you can start looking for potential EAP vendors. Make sure to check they offer the programmes you need, and it’s a good idea to inform them of your budget ahead of time so they can help you find the best EAP for your team.
4. Let staff know about mental health resources
You can take Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training as an employer, and you can also offer this training course out to the wider team as well.
Training in MHFA is a great way to teach yourself and others how to talk to someone dealing with workplace anxiety in a way that reassures them. Some employees may feel more comfortable speaking to a colleague about anxiety at work as opposed to a manager, so it’s a good idea to have an MHFA trained member of staff throughout all levels.
Additionally, it can be beneficial to put up posters in communal areas such as kitchens, dining areas, or social spaces, displaying the names and work email addresses of MHFA trained staff. This just helps spread the word that resources are available to people dealing with workplace anxiety.
5. Give your team manageable workloads
Anxiety about performance can often lead to workplace anxiety itself, and the easiest way to tackle this is to ensure employees have workloads they feel in control of.
Different people will perform at different levels, so it’s best to take this on a person by person basis. Monthly 1-2-1s are a great time to ask individuals whether their workload feels manageable, as well as discuss any subsequent adjustment plans if they are experiencing workplace anxiety.
As an employer, it is also important to be aware of your resource availability and how this lines up with workload. Make sure to take your time to plan out work schedules and try to distribute tasks fairly and evenly to help avoid overwhelming certain members of your team.
Other ways to support someone with anxiety at work
There are also ways you can encourage people to manage workplace anxiety outside of working hours.
A GP will be able to help with a diagnosis and referral to a mental health specialist. However, wait times for NHS therapists and counsellors can be quite long – this is where private counsellors or therapists are essential. If the staff member does seek private help, remind them again of any available EAPs that could help with the financial cost of this.
Additionally, there are alternative ways to help manage anxiety at work that don’t cost any money at all:
- Journalling.
- Meditation.
- Mindfulness.
- Breathing exercises.
- Following a healthy diet.
Benenden Healthcare for Business can help you provide your employees with access to a 24/7 Mental Health Helpline, for immediate emotional support and signposting, as well as other affordable and effective health care solutions to your employees.
Now you are aware of what workplace anxiety is, as well as ways you can look to support someone with anxiety at work, you may want to explore other work-related mental health conditions. For more information on the signs of burnout within the workforce or ways to tackle workplace loneliness, head over to our Be Healthy hub.
If you want to learn more about promoting a mental health policy that works, sign up to our employee engagement newsletter or head over to our Be Healthy hub for more useful articles.
