It’s estimated around 1.6 million people have called in sick today.
Dubbed as ‘National Sickie Day’, the first Monday of February sees a significant portion of the workforce out of action every year, as it’s statistically the date when most workers are likely to call in sick.
While sceptics may wonder if the end of Dry January plays a role, experts have told Metro.co.uk that ‘new year, new targets’ is more likely the cause.
Taking a sick day can be down to more than just illness – it can also be an indication of burnout.
And with a recent report from Perci Health revealing less than half (46%) of workers feel their employer supports their physical and emotional health, it’s no wonder some are in desperate need of a day off.
Plus, with sick days at work hitting the highest level in 10 years perhaps this says more about current workplace culture as a whole – instead highlighting that stress and burnout culture is rife.
Sickies can indicate a deeper issue
Bex Spiller, the founder of workplace wellbeing app The Anti-Burnout Club, tells Metro: ‘Many workplaces expect their employees to work full throttle in January after a Christmas break. They’ll sit high targets, high expectations, and pile the pressure on. After all, people have generally had a break, right?
‘We may even put that pressure or those high expectations on ourselves. New Year, New Productive Me. Perhaps you push yourself to work longer days or find it harder to switch off at the end of the day. The problem is, is that this just isn’t a sustainable way of working.
‘Add this to the fact that many people restrict themselves in January in the form of diets or try to add more spinning plates with new hobbies, exercise regimes and habits – and it’s a recipe for burnout.’
Bex adds that working somewhere you feel supported is extremely important – for both your physical and mental health.
She’s also shared a few key things that good companies should do to help you manage stress…
What your workplace can do to relieve stress and avoid burnout
First up, is a working environment where you feel you can tell your boss how you’re feeling – but also seeing your company act upon any mentions of stress.
Bex also says a good workplace should help make your workload feel more manageable if stress has been flagged.
And finally, encouragement to take your lunch break, finish on time, and switch off is crucial for good employee wellbeing.
What can be done about it?
Working somewhere you feel supported is extremely important to avoid burning out. That means a workplace where:
- You can be honest when you’re not feeling well and take the time off that you need (avoiding presenteeism)
- You can be open when you’re struggling with high levels of stress and measures will be put in place to help
- The workload feels manageable and you can talk to management if it’s not so that balance can be restored
- People are encouraged to switch off and not be working every hour of the day
- All of these things are embedded into the company culture so that everyone, from the CEO down, feels listened to and respected
Bex Spiller
What you can do if your workplace is failing you
But what happens if you find that your employer doesn’t tick those boxes, should you consider looking elsewhere?
Bex suggests putting together a ‘Wellness Action Plan’ (which she’s made a template for) to present to your employer, outlining what’s impacting your stress levels at work and how it can be fixed.
She adds: ‘Give management time to work out and implement solutions, but be wary of those that are “all talk.”
‘If you don’t see real, actionable change within a few months then it may be time to dust off the CV.’
Common causes of workplace stress (and how to deal with them):
Failure in communication
Business and wellbeing trainer Ros Jones says that poor communication is one of the biggest contributors toworkplace stress.
She tells Metro.co.uk: ‘Lack of clear instructions, inadequate training or ambivalence can lead to people not delivering what was expected. This in turn causes frustration, managers believing their team aren’t up to the job and people getting demoralised.’
Different communication styles can also cause problems.
‘For example, those who are assertive and abrupt can be perceived as aggressive,’ adds Ros.
‘On the other hand, if a member of the team is a careful perfectionist, they may experience stress if they are rushed or where others in the team do not have similar high standards.
‘Not communicating clearly in an appropriate style to ensure that everyone understands (and is aware of expectations) can lead to workplace stress.’
Heavy workload
The more we have on, the more challenging day-to-day life can be.
Ros adds: ‘Consistently heavy workloads and long working hours – especially where there is little feedback, gratitude for a job well done or other acknowledgement – is another common cause of workplace stress.’
Of course, there are busier periods throught the year for everyone, but a consistently heavy workload is not sustainable over time – and can lead to mental and physicalburnout.
‘In a workplace where there is poor leadership and low levels of employee engagement, there will commonly be a high turnover rate which is what often leads to some employees taking on heavier workloads to cover for insufficient staff – thus exacerbating the stressful working environment,’ adds Ros.
Organisational change
While a change in an organisation itself is not necessarily a cause of workplace stress, the way that it’s managed (or not managed) can be.
‘Change is inevitable for business development and growth whether it’s moving office, moving to remote working, introducing new systems or changes in job roles. Workplace stress is common where there is poor communication about the change and the impact on individuals,’ continues Ros.
‘It can lead to anxiety, people imagining worse case scenarios or spreading rumours about what might be happening.’
A poor work environment
Our work environment has a strong impact on our mood.
Insufficient space when working from home or inappropriate equipment can contribute to a more stressful working day.
Ros says: ‘Some people find it stressful working completely on their own for long periods and suffer anxiety and uncertainty because they’re unaware of what’s going on in the wider organisation – or they’re unable to concentrate with other family members around them.’
Lack of delegation
Another common cause of workplace stress is a failure to delegate, says executive coach Susy Roberts.
She explains: ‘Delegation isn’t simply a case of sharing your workload out. You can’t dump the contents of your in-tray on the desks of your colleagues and expect them to get on with it – that’s abdication.
‘You need to have teams and structures in place, so everyone knows what’s expected of them, and you know who the best person is for the job.’
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
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