Preventing work-related stress during the coronavirus pandemic

Singer Instruments has been using the Management Standards approach to managing work related stress for several years but, in 2020 Covid-19 hit and turned life upside down for everyone.

This science company has 45 employees and a diverse workforce. The quality manager was asked to take over health and safety management for the organisation at a time when two workers were on sick leave with work-related stress. The quality manager, Adrian Huxley, became the champion for prevention of stress in the organisation.

Adrian said: “Our number one priority is to ensure the health and safety of our employees and visitors.
“Roughly two-thirds of staff were able to work from home, which meant that those involved in on-site production had additional space to socially-distance.

“I was very aware that so much upheaval could adversely affect the mental wellbeing of staff. I ran a Management Standards survey in April 2020 and the results showed a slight dip from previous results. This was expected and, after speaking to staff, it was obvious that it would take a while for people to adjust to the new working regime, both for those working from home and those still on-site.”

Managers at Singer Instruments are encouraged to maintain regular contact with staff (at work or working remotely) for work purposes. The nature of the business means that staff are involved in several online meetings per week.

For other discussions, such as social ones or keeping in touch with how people are feeling or coping with the changes, regular one-to-one meetings between staff and their managers are encouraged. These one-to-one catch ups enable people to voice any concerns privately and allow early discussions so that issues can be tackled early before they become a problem.

Adrian added: “I also contact individuals, to ask about any concerns that they may have about their wellbeing, and provide managers with support through their personal issues and whilst they are dealing with staff issues/problems.

“In June, I ran another Management Standards survey and have repeated it every three months since. The results are surprisingly good, the best that we have ever had in fact.”

“It has become obvious that the key to reducing stress and other potential mental health issues is appropriate and timely communication and lots of it.”

The systems that Singer Instruments has developed a part of its implementation of the Management Standards approach have given the flexibility to accommodate these changes. Adrian confirmed: “discussing change to manage issues before they become problems is vital.”

Prevent, reduce and manage stress in your workplace

If you already have a risk assessment and approach to managing wellbeing in place, consider whether you need to reassess the situation due to changes and challenges brought about by COVID-19. Social distancing, working from home and adaptations may have increased existing causes of stress or created new ones.

HSE has a range of practical support and guidance available including risk assessment templates, talking toolkits to help start conversations, workbooks, posters, a mobile app and an automated stress indicator tool that is free for employers with up to 50 employees.

Check out the practical support and guidance available under the ‘resources’ section.