Is your workforce stressed out? Let us help!

April is Stress Awareness Month, making it the perfect time to highlight the impact of stress on smaller businesses and how Medigold Health’s new ad hoc occupational health service, Medigold Pathway, can provide you with essential support. 

The cost of workplace stress 

Workplace stress is a growing issue that affects both employees and employers. When stress levels run high, it can lead to burnout, increased absenteeism, and reduced productivity, negatively impacting business performance. 

In the UK alone, stress, depression, and anxiety caused employees to miss a staggering 17.1 million working days in 2022/23. The financial burden is just as severe, with stress-related absences costing businesses between £42 billion to £45 billion annually. 

For small businesses, where resources are often stretched thin, managing employee wellbeing can be particularly challenging. Many lack dedicated HR teams or occupational health expertise, meaning they either rely on overstretched GPs or operate in reactive, fire-fighting mode when health issues arise.  

Without structured support, employees struggling with stress may experience reduced job satisfaction, increased presenteeism, and higher turnover rates, all of which impact business growth and stability. 

Do you want to improve the wellbeing of your workforce? Here are 5 simple strategies you can implement to reduce stress in your organisation.  

• Introduce an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP): An EAP provides confidential counselling and support to help employees tackle stress, whether it’s personal or work-related. It’s a great resource for boosting wellbeing and keeping stress in check. 

• Be flexible: Remote work and flexible hours help employees balance work and their personal lives, enabling them to better manage their personal commitments, family responsibilities, and self-care. This ultimately reduces stress and gives them more time for themselves. 

• Encourage annual leave and work breaks: Encourage employees to take their full annual leave to rest, recharge, and return refreshed. Regular breaks during the day, like a quick walk or coffee, can also keep them focused and energised, reducing stress and boosting wellbeing.  

• Champion work/life balance: Keep workloads realistic, respect personal time, and encourage disconnecting after hours to prevent stress and burnout. Happy employees = less stress and more engagement. 

• Talk to them: Talking to employees is crucial for managing stress. Regular check-ins allow you to spot potential stress before it escalates, offer support, and show that you care about their wellbeing. 

Flexible occupational health support 

While some elements of workplace stress can be managed in-house, others require a more professional approach, and we are here to help. 

Our new Medigold Pathway service provides a pay-as-you-go occupational health service designed for businesses that need expert support without long-term contracts. 

So, whether you need employee mental health support, a one-off management referral, or a workplace assessment, Medigold Pathway gives you the freedom to access only the services you need when you need them. 

Get in touch today to see how Medigold Pathway can help your business reduce stress, improve productivity, and keep your employees happy and healthy!