UK workers set to embark on the most stressful period of the year.

This weekend will see the greatest number of UK workers embarking on their summer holidays , leaving colleagues back in the office facing the most stressful period of the corporate calendar.

Research conducted amongst over 2,000 workers, revealed that just under a third (29%) suffer from increased stress when their colleagues are on holiday.  Covering annual leave took second place in the professional pressure league; only the prospect of facing redundancy was cited as more stressful (38%).

Add to this the fact that 51% of respondents are already feeling more stressed at work than a year ago, and that 60% believe their employer is providing minimal or less than the legal requirement of support in the workplace and there is real potential for this year’s summer holiday to cause further workplace stress.

Russ Piper, Chief Executive of Sovereign Health Care, who commissioned the research, comments: “Stress is a complex issue which can manifest itself in different ways, making it difficult for managers to identify and manage in the workplace. However a failure to do so could lead to employees developing further health problems and having to take time off work, which can cause remaining staff even more stress.

He added: “This time of year is naturally more hectic with parents preparing for the schools breaking up and juggling childcare, and businesses having to manage the increasing number of people taking leave. Therefore it’s even more important that employers step up the well-being support they provide for employees to try and help ease some of the additional burden.”

Alarmingly, when compared to periods of personal stress, colleagues being on leave was noted as causing a greater strain than a relationship breakdown or divorce (26%) and moving home (27%), reinforcing just how serious the issue is affecting UK workers.

Russ adds: “It is no longer enough for organisations to expect their employees to just get on with the job regardless of the issues they are facing. Providing cost effective wellbeing support to your employees could well be the best investment you make this year. Especially as almost half of the people questioned (45%) said they would leave their present employer in return for a better benefits package – even if the salary remained the same.”

The survey was conducted as part of Sovereign Health Care’s ‘Duty of Health Care’ research to identify employee perceptions of the well-being support they receive from employers and determine how the organisation’s new corporate health care cash plan, Asset, can best meet the needs of employers.

For more information about Sovereign Health Care or Asset and its various levels of cover, which start from just £6 per month per employee, please visit: www.sovereignhealthcare.co.uk/asset

Notes to Editor
Most stressed regions
Northern Ireland (35%) topped the list of the areas where workers are most stressed by colleagues being on leave, followed by the East Midlands (32%), Scotland (31%) and North West and Yorkshire (both 30%), whilst workers in Wales (23%) are least stressed by colleagues being on leave.
Most stressed industries
People working in Recruitment (53%) are the most stressed by colleagues being on leave, with Marketing (50%), Legal (45%), Research and Development (41%) and Nursing/Social services (40%) following. The workers least affected by colleagues being on leave are those working in Sales (17%).
Most stressed ages
The age group most stressed by covering the leave of colleagues is 25-34, with 16-24 year olds feeling the pressure the least.

• Sovereign Health Care is one of the UK’s longest established providers of health care cash plans to individuals and businesses
• A health care cash plan is an affordable alternative to PMI. Cash plans are designed to be used and pay tax free cash back on everyday health costs such as dental care and glasses
• Asset is a new corporate paid cash plan and it removes the need for separate standalone provisions – such as eye tests for computer users or an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – as they come as part of the plan
• Asset is about giving employees more than just financial assistance. It demonstrates an employer is actively looking to meet their duty of care responsibilities and that they have a process in place to support their workforce; it can help businesses to address stress in the workplace and it can support an active absence management policy.
• 95% of Sovereign Health Care’s customers would recommend them to a friend."Sovereign Health Care Customers Survey"
• The Sovereign Health Care Charitable Trust has donated in excess of £3.5 million to community and health related charities over the past 6 years

Media Contacts
Issued by Golley Slater PR on behalf of Sovereign Heath Care. For further information, please contact Kim Bailey or Michelle Oliver on 01943 48 48 48 or email kim.bailey@golleyslater.co.uk or michelle.oliver@golleyslater.co.uk.