Creating a Healthier Workplace: How to Recognise and Manage Stress at Work

April is Stress Awareness Month, a timely reminder of the importance of mental health at work.

Stress is one of the leading causes of absence in the UK—often triggered by unmanageable workloads, poor management practices, and organisational change.

But non-work-related factors, such as health issues or caring responsibilities, also impact how people show up at work.

As a values-led HR consultancy, we know that building healthier, more human workplaces means taking stress seriously.

Here are some practical steps organisations can take to support employee wellbeing and reduce workplace stress:

👥 Train Managers and Leaders

Line managers play a vital role in employee wellbeing. Make sure anyone with management responsibilities receives training on recognising the signs of stress and how to respond effectively. Simple frameworks or manager guides can help embed this in day-to-day practice.

🔍 Spot the Signs of Stress

Early recognition is key. Look out for changes in behaviour, attendance, or performance. Monitor patterns in sickness absence and staff turnover, and make space for honest conversations about how people are coping.

🧰 Offer Practical Support

Invest in the right tools and support. This might include Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs), access to counselling, wellness sessions, occupational health, enhanced sick pay, or other wellbeing benefits. Tailor these to your workforce and promote them regularly.

⚖️ Review Workloads and Expectations

Prevention is better than cure. Set realistic workloads and deadlines, and equip staff with the training and resources they need to succeed. Regularly review team capacity and use stress risk assessments or audits to identify areas of concern.

🌿 Lead by Example

Culture starts at the top. Leaders who model healthy working habits—taking breaks, setting boundaries, respecting time off—give others permission to do the same. If leadership openly values wellbeing, the whole organisation benefits.

🔄 Be Flexible Where You Can

Where roles allow, flexible hours or remote working can significantly reduce stress. Giving people more control over how, where, and when they work improves wellbeing and retention.

🗣️ Create a Culture of Openness

Psychological safety matters. Encourage honest conversations about workload and wellbeing. Use one-to-ones, team check-ins, or anonymous surveys to identify stress points early—and act on them.

Reducing stress at work isn’t just about wellbeing—it’s about building a stronger, more resilient organisation.

When staff feel supported, heard, and valued, they perform better. This Stress Awareness Month, take a moment to reflect on how your organisation is supporting its people—and where you can do better.

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