27% of the region’s employers do not recognise that staff are suffering from stress.

New research has revealed that 53% of employees in Yorkshire and Humberside are more stressed than they were 18 months ago, due to the economic climate causing greater workloads and increased pressure in the workplace.

The research, conducted by cash plan provider Sovereign Health Care to coincide with National Stress Awareness Day on Wednesday 2nd November, also revealed that only 27% of the region’s employers recognise that their employees are suffering from stress, putting measures in place to support them.

Russ Piper, Chief Executive at Sovereign Health Care, says: “Stress continues to be the main cause of absence in the workplace . However, it’s important to try and minimise the impact of stress and mitigate against it where possible.Stress in itself isn’t necessarily a bad thing – it can often drive us to achieve - but it’s how we deal with stress that’s important. The appropriate support needs to be in place and we need to be aware when stress levels reach the point where it becomes a problem.”

Having an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) in place can help employers to demonstrate that they are actively looking to meet their duty of care responsibilities and support the resolution of issues which cause stress in the workplace. Sovereign Health Care’s corporate paid cash plan product, Asset, includes an EAP which provides practical and emotional support around the clock on a range of personal, financial, family and work related issues. This easy to access, expert advice helps employees deal with potentially stressful life and work events. Asset’s EAP provides up to eight face-to-face counselling sessions, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) where needed.

Asset can also be used by employees to claim cash back on a range of health care including optical and dental treatment.

Russ concludes: “Employee workloads and stress levels have increased in most industries, yet salaries have remained relatively static despite living costs continuing to rise. This unrewarded extra work can lead to low morale and stress levels further increasing.

“Therefore, it’s important that employers put measures in place to help balance the increased pressure and workload that so many workers in our region are having to take on in the current climate. Afterall, employees that feel cared for are likely to be more motivated and productive than those that don’t feel like they have any support.”

National Stress Awareness Day actively supports well-being and stress prevention, for more information visit: www.isma.org.uk/national-stress-awareness-day or for more information about Sovereign Health Care and Asset including its various levels of cover, which start from £6 per month per employee, please visit: www.sovereignhealthcare.co.uk.

*Department of Health