Glasgow and London command the highest graduate salariesLevels of work stress are seemingly higher than they have ever been and are a significant problem across the globe. In the UK alone, it is estimated that 15.4 million working days were lost due to work-related stress, depression or anxiety in 2017/18 at a cost to the economy of over £6bn. So which UK city sees almost one third of workers reporting stress-related issues?
Not only does it damage the economy but it can have a dramatic impact on quality of life, affecting everything from personal relationships and parenting through to quality of sleep. A poor work/life balance can often lead to stress as it also reduces the amount of time people can spend building and maintaining vital personal relationships with friends and family.
If asked to name the most stressed city in the UK, the majority of people would probably say London, purely due to its sheer population and the fact that there are an abundance of jobs with perceived high-stress levels: city bankers, traders and MPs, for example.
However, it is actually another of the UK’s capitals, Cardiff, that has been found to be the most stressful city in which to work. This is according to a survey carried out by fitness network Hussle which questioned 2,000 employees across major cities in the UK.
The survey found that in Cardiff, over a fifth (22%) of employees had been signed off work within the past year. In second place (only just behind) was Newcastle, followed in third place by Edinburgh.
Interestingly, according to the survey, London workers came in at 10th place. However, it is important to note that this is based upon the percentage of people signed-off work for stress and so it is plausible that the actual stress levels could be higher but people in some areas may be more inclined to go into work despite the stress and/or are less likely to seek help.
Almost a third (31%) of those working in Cardiff reported that they feel constantly stressed or anxious about work, with 28% admitting that job worries cause sleep issues.
The following are 10 tips you can try to help reduce stress at work:
- Block time in your calendar where you can focus and not be disturbed
- Turn off your email for 45 minutes each hour
- Accept that no one knows everything (especially your boss)
- Stay hydrated
- Pick your battles
- Stop gossiping
- Get out of the office at least once a day
- Do some exercise/a workout at lunch or after work
- Hand out compliments
- Be grateful
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