The impact of stress on the tech workforce and how to support your teams

April is Stress Awareness Month in the UK and after a year of working from home, this is a particularly important topic to all workers, but especially tech professionals. With businesses relying heavily on IT skills to continue operating, the expertise of tech workers has been in high demand. As a result, a report from Harvey Nash, suggests that mental health concerns among tech workers have increased by 75% during the pandemic.

The theme of this year’s stress awareness month is ‘Regaining Connectivity, Certainty and Control’, which is a fitting theme after what has been a stressful year. According to statistics reported by Workplace Insight, almost half of employees would like less work stress in 2021.

The success of a company is dependent on the work of its staff, and so addressing stress in the workplace can improve employee retention, teamwork, morale and productivity, resulting in a more profitable business.

Let’s take a closer look at the symptoms of work stress and what employers can do to help manage it:

Most common causes of work-related stress in IT

Not only has the pandemic had an impact on where we work, but also on how we work. For many people, working from home has meant a change in routine. With no commutes, the boundaries between work and leisure time have become ever more blurred. In the IT industry specifically, we might surmise that some of the common reasons for stress, include:

Longer hours

According to The Guardian, UK workers have increased their working week by almost 25%. With an increase in demand for tech skills, IT and tech workers are likely to have been impacted by working longer days. HR News reports that in 2020, there was a 24% increase in employees reporting burnout.

Excessive workloads

In this fast-paced industry, employees are often asked to meet unrealistic deadlines, which means increased periods of focus for longer stretches of time. The tech industry’s current skills gap can also lead to employees taking on additional work for which they have insufficient training.

Job insecurity

Despite the UK tech industry’s quick recovery during the pandemic, the competitive nature of the sector can put pressure on people to work when they’re unwell. The fear of missing out on future opportunities can lead employees to ‘working through’ illness, which can also increase background stress levels. Continued uncertainty over the impact of Brexit and the roll-out of IR35 could also be seen as contributing factors.

Personal circumstances

Issues in our personal lives can have a significant impact on our performance at work. Working from home especially, can bring personal circumstances to the fore. Workers with young children, for example, may find it challenging to be productive, especially when childcare providers have been closed during to the pandemic.

What are the symptoms of workplace stress?

Stress manifests in different ways for different people, but some of the most common signs can include:

Increased sickness and absence

Stress can impact physical health in many ways and for some, it means having to take time off work. Workplace Insight reports that stress-related absence has increased by 64% since 2019. Employers should be aware of increased sickness levels and the correlation between stress and absenteeism.

Fatigue

Everyone has ‘off’ days, but prolonged tiredness and lack of motivation can indicate underlying stress. IT managers who notice a change in an employee’s energy levels or productivity should address the underlying cause by arranging a conversation.

Irritability

When we’re feeling stressed, we become irritable. Our tolerance for small inconveniences gets lower, which can result in seemingly irrational outbursts and displays of emotion. Managers should look out for signs that employees are acting out of character or losing control in certain situations.

How employers can help tech workers manage workplace stress

Reducing the impact of stress on employees begins with identifying its underlying causes. Recent changes to workload, contracts and management can all affect the health and wellbeing of workers. Running staff surveys can be a good way of gauging stress levels and identifying ways of supporting employees. Once a company is aware of the causes of stress in its organisation, the following strategies can help alleviate its impact:

Acknowledgement

It’s important for management to acknowledge when workers are stressed and to raise the issue on a department or company-wide level. Early intervention is key to ensuring that workers don’t become overwhelmed and unable to cope.

Well-being support

Improving the level of wellbeing support provides more options to those who need help. Gym memberships, and access to meditation apps can help improve an employee’s health and wellbeing.

Airbnb for example, provides free yoga classes to its employees and Apple provides its employees with regular mindfulness training. Google also offers a range of stress reduction classes like Search Inside Yourself and Meditation 101. The company also has a community called gPause that supports meditation and mindfulness.

Employers should aim to establish support networks, whether in the form of counselling, employee-led groups or support from line managers. Providing employees with a space to talk about stress can ensure that preventative measures are put in place early. Managers should also be provided with training and have access to resources to help employees who are struggling.

Flexible working

At CWJobs, we’re big proponents of flexible working in IT. Moving forward, we’d expect to see more companies offering flexible working options. Providing employees with the opportunity to work remotely, on their own terms (and not due to the pandemic), can encourage a better work-life balance.

According to a recent survey from employee engagement experts, Wildgoose, over 39% of people who work flexibly see a noticeable improvement in their mental health. Similarly, almost 43% of those who don’t have the option of flexible working, feel it would enable them to better manage their mental health.

Recruitment

As early as the recruitment stage, employers can help reduce stress levels by showcasing the support they have in place on job adverts. The prospect of job interviews and changing careers can be stressful and demonstrating awareness can help prepare potential candidates. With many job interviews taking place online during the pandemic, employers should acknowledge the circumstances to reassure candidates that technical difficulties and unforeseen interruptions are expected.