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PTP Survey Reveals Stress is Widespread and on the Up

How accurate is the picture painted today of workplace stress? Statistics tell us that in the UK alone over 13 million working days are lost each year to stress. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) adds that 70% of all visits to the doctor and 85% of serious illness are triggered by stress. PTP Training & Marketing Ltd - one of the UK's top training companies working with more than 20% of FTSE 100 companies - organised a survey among two hundred of its clients to find out if this is a true reflection of twenty first century working life and if so, how stress is affecting today's workforce.

The respondents are managers across the country working in companies of all sizes from global companies to SMEs and representing all industry sectors.

Half the workforce suffers from stress

One of the most frightening findings of the survey was the number of people believed to be suffering from stress. A quarter of the sample believes that at least 75% of their work colleagues have problems with stress. Of these respondents 12% put the figure as high as 90% + of colleagues suffering and 6% of the sample believe every single work colleague suffers from stress to a certain degree. A further 26% of respondents are of the opinion that between 50% and 75% of the workforce suffer from stress. This means on average half the workforce is suffering from stress.

Despite these worrying figures there is a proportion of managers who believe very few staff are affected by the stress syndrome. The survey found three in ten managers saying stress affects 10% and under of their staff.

Managers, support staff and working mothers - most likely to suffer

Forty per cent of respondents believe managers are the most likely to be affected by stress. [These figures may be influenced by the fact that the survey sample was primarily managers]. Many were of the opinion that the higher up the scale you are the higher the stress levels. The next categories were support and administrative staff together with working mothers where is was thought that much of the stress would be caused or exacerbated by external demands such as looking after families and juggling domestic and professional lives. One in ten believe that those occupying middle management roles are the most prone to stress as they have the responsibility which comes with this level but not the power to change the system which comes with a more senior management position. Blue collar workers were considered by the sample to be the least likely to have stress problems.

A few respondents were also of the view that stress was not influenced by position but by temperament where you were either prone to stress or not. Others thought age was a more telling factor in particular young people who feel pressurised into buying homes and other life-style 'must-haves' and those in their mid thirties with young families who have significant work responsibilities and are likely to work long hours. It was not thought unusual in some jobs - particularly those where sales targets are involved - for people to be working more than 55 hours per week.

Deadlines and targets - main triggers

It's not surprising to see that meeting deadlines and targets are the main triggers of stress. A quarter of the sample say high expectations and often unrealistic demands have a detrimental affect on workers' stress levels. This was followed by 21% saying a high workload is to blame forcing people to work harder and longer hours. Thirteen per cent put it down to lack of support, direction and training. Others issues included poor management, poor communication, lack of resources and struggling to achieve the work/life balance. A few respondents also reckon it is our ingrained culture of hard work and long hours which we have to thank for sky high stress levels.

23% of companies have no stress beating policies

Despite the scale of the problem of workplace stress in twenty first century living just under a quarter have no policies or procedures to help colleagues suffering from stress. Of this number only six per cent are currently working on developing policies, putting together risk assessments or in the throes of organising stress workshops. However other companies are using a host of measures to help counter-act stress. The majority of these are internal initiatives and include specific training and workshops, employee support and counselling, open door policy for direct contact with mangers to talk through problems and a staff support telephone line.

Preventing stress rather than curing when it occurs appears to be the priority for many companies. This is achieved through a variety of measures such as flexible working, maternity, paternity and special leave, rest days and time out and a mentoring system.

External support such as the use of occupational health officers, helplines, training and workshops appear to be used very little leaving much of the work in this area to be done in-house.

Situation is getting worse

Just under half the sample (48%) believe the stress situation among their colleagues has deteriorated over the last two years. Reasons for this were varied and included poor management, low morale, long hours, tighter deadlines, fewer staff, cut throat market and companies running leaner. One respondent summed up the situation as "less staff with more customer demands and targets to meet".

Under 20% thought the situation within their companies had improved over the last two years primarily helped by the introduction of more flexible and part time working and other new initiatives such as 'rest days'. Other factors easing the stress situation included new personnel - particularly at the top - bring new attitudes into the workplace, a better awareness of stress issues and consequential improved reporting and communication systems and company restructuring. Ironically company restructuring can also be considered a stress trigger.

Marc Holland, managing director of PTP Training & Marketing Ltd says he is surprised at both the high numbers of people in the workplace suffering from stress and the fact that very few external resources are used to combat it. He comments:

"The number of stress sufferers revealed by our survey is extremely worrying - particularly as it seems to be a growing trend. Companies are taking measures to deal with the problem in-house but there are a number of external support systems they could use to help ease the situation. Programmes such as our Stress Management course are designed to help people reduce stress by learning how to manage pressure better. This has the effect of putting people back in control even as the pressure increases so they perform well and achieve results within this demanding environment.

"Once people learn how to recognise the early warning signals of stress and understand the tools and techniques to reduce it they will be far better prepared to deal with the demands of today's competitive workplace where people have heavier workloads, harder to achieve targets and tighter deadlines."

Five Free Places at a PTP Training Course

PTP Training & Marketing Ltd is giving away to Informnorth readers five free places for any of its one hundred plus full-day programmes - including a number of subjects designed to reduce stress for busy professionals. In addition to the obvious Stress Management programme there is also Managing your Emotions under pressure, Managing Change and Managing Conflict. Each place is worth£395 + VAT.

Programmes are delivered at 76 venues across the UK and include Sunderland, Leeds, Manchester, Chester, Sheffield, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

For full information on all training programmes which cover the areas of Management, Sales & Marketing, Customer Care and Finance and Planning, please log onto PTP's web site at www.ptp.co.uk or call 0845 660 3860.

To win a free place just answer the three questions below. Answers can be found in the feature on PTP's stress survey findings. All correct entries will be entered into a draw and the first five drawn out will be allocated a place on a training programme.of their choice.

1. Which group is most likely to suffer from stress?
a. Admin/support staff
b. Managers
c. Blue Collar workers

2. What are the main triggers of stress?
a. Long hours
b. Heavy workloads
c. Deadlines and targets

3. Has the stress situation improved, deteriorated or stayed the same for most companies?
a. Improved
b. Stayed the same
c. Deteriorated

Please tick your answers and send to:
Marc Holland
PTP Training & Marketing Ltd
Express House
147 Loughborough Road
Leicester, LE4 5LR

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