According to the 2011 CIPD/Simplyhealth absence report, stress is now the biggest cause of long-term absence from work.
This news comes as no surprise when we are repeatedly being exposed to negativity, directly or indirectly through our employer or the media, threatening our job security. Consider just a small selection of recent headlines:
1. UK managers expect double dip recession
2. Navy issuing first 1000 redundancy notices
4. Youth unemployment: the angry millions
...and perhaps the icing on the cake is last week’s headline, The UK seeing a big rise in poverty.
Unfortunately, these headlines do not paint a very happy picture.
Repeated threats to our job security, cost of living and income can significantly increase stress levels and it is these stress levels that need to be managed effectively to avoid long term absence from work.
Stress Management
There is certainly a call for firms to address the issue of stress management and do all they can to maintain staff morale. However, it is also important for individuals to take some control over their situation to avoid placing total reliance on their employer.
If this relates to you, recognise when your stress levels are increasing and start taking small steps towards alleviating the stress you are feeling.
In times like this it is really important to give yourself space to introduce some positive elements to your working week.
(Are you at risk of redundancy? Have a read of my 10 tips on what to do if you are made redundant)