5.6 Employee guide

5.6 Employee's guide to managing work related stress (Appendix A)

There are many issues that contribute to the pressures we feel at work. As a responsible employer, the University of Bedfordshire aims to make sure that the pressures you experience at work do not contribute to making you ill. Excessive pressure can lead to stress and stress can impact on your health. It is important to recognise that personal problems can also lead to you feeling stressed at work. If you feel are suffering from stress as a result of personal problems do not be afraid to raise this with your line manger and be sure to seek medical advice from your doctor.

There are a number of ways in which you can reduce your susceptibility to stress. This short guide aims to highlight how you can prevent or minimise the risk to yourself. The following are just some suggestions:

Maintain a healthy lifestyle:

• Take regular exercise – start slowly and build up to 30 minutes three to five days a week.  Remember if you have health problems consult your doctor;
• Eat a balanced diet and don’t skip meals;
• Get quality sleep – between six and eight hours per night;
• Reduce alcohol and tobacco intake.

Improve your work habits:

• Identify the sources of stress at work (if any). Which do you cause yourself and which are caused by others?
• Follow Health and Safety Procedures;
• Make sure you have relevant guidance and information for the job;
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help and offer it if you see others suffering;
• Discuss problems / concerns with your manager;
• Manage your time efficiently and be realistic with setting aims and objectives generally.

Make wise use of your time:

• Set achievable goals;
• Prioritise the workload;
• Don’t put things off;
• Take a break from the working environment – go for a lunchtime walk;
• Take things at a steady pace – don’t try to finish everything at once.

Change your personal habits:

• Celebrate your successes;
• Share your problems;
• Make sure you have regular leisure time either on your own or with family / friends;
• Decide what is and isn’t important in your life;
• Stop smoking and drink less caffeine.

Remember if you feel you are suffering from stress talk to your line manager immediately. You do not have to cope with this alone and alerting your manager as early as possible is much more likely to lead to a speedy resolution of the problem and minimise the harmful effects of stress. Also remember to seek medical advice if you are concerned about your health.