Add to this the fact that some companies have started to introduce surveillance of their workforce in the form of cameras and time tracking software and it is easy to see that workers are facing pressure like never before.
During the summer months, millions of workers in the UK book holidays and spend a few weeks relaxing away from work. Whether they are spending the time lying on a beach or simply enjoying some time closer to home with their family, all workers need time to chill out to get their energy back.
According to recent studies, many employees do not like to take time off, believing that their work will have reached uncontrollable levels when they return. Others go so far as to claim that they do not want to take time off work for fear of being made redundant if they are not seen to put in the same number of hours as their colleagues.
In environments that are so high pressure, employees can end up with health issues caused by the effects of stress, including impacted mental health and depression. It is no wonder that 60 per cent of workers fear the increase in employer surveillance.
Workers who experience an overwhelming amount of pressure for prolonged periods of time will find it harder to concentrate and will be less productive. As a result, it is important that managers and bosses keep an eye on how much stress is present in the workplace.
This means that bosses should know what signs to look out for when looking for stress symptoms in the workplace. Such symptoms include loss of concentration, irritability, poor communication, selfishness, headaches, anxiety and short-temperedness.
In more extreme circumstances, a prolonged exposure to workplace stress can result in more extreme behaviour, such as alcoholism or drug abuse, which is often used as a form of coping mechanism. Workers in such environments should make sure they manage their work/life balance correctly and maintain a healthy diet with plenty of exercise in addition to taking care to boost their mental health through other means.
While taking a holiday from your job might help you in the short term, it won’t help you in the long term. You will still return to a stressful and busy job once your holiday is over. The best thing for companies to do is to put policies in place that will minimise work-related stress.
Companies can do this by fostering an environment of open discussion and conversation. It is also essential that they lessen expectations rather than focusing blindly on results and timescales. Worker success should also be celebrated.
Everyone deserves a break from work a few times a year, but it has to be for the correct reasons. If you and your company look after your mental health, you will be as content to return to your workplace environment as you were to leave it.
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