Burnouts, stress, depression, and panic attacks have all become common occurrences at the current workplace. Receding boundaries between work and play timings implies employees are always connected to their work. And checking their work-related messages and emails, even on weekends.
Giving them no break or respite from the hectic workload. Building up the stress. Rubbing salt into the wound are the factors like –
↳ Tight deadlines,
↳ Lack of job security,
↳ Poor management, and
Conflicts with colleagues or supervisors can aggravate these feelings and may, at times, result in panic attacks.
Picture this:
According to research conducted by Champion Health, 3 in 5 employees/professionals have experienced anxiety at work.
Great Place To Work India – a workplace assessment and recognition organization, in its recent survey revealed one in four Indian employees finds it difficult to speak about burnout, anxiety, stress, or depression without the fear of judgment.
Understanding Workplace Anxiety
Unofficially referred to as a ‘work anxiety disorder, ’ workplace anxiety is an anxiety disorder manifesting as stress in relation to workplace functions. It is also known as work phobia or ergophobia.
However, to understand the ‘what of workplace anxiety’ let’s look at its definition.
What is Workplace Anxiety?
In simple words, workplace anxiety is stress caused by work or work-related functions. This stress leads to anxiety or the impact of an anxiety disorder at work.
While it is not a medical condition, per se, it can have negative effects if not addressed timely. And the results can be disastrous for both employees and organizations.
The Signs
Some of the common signs of workplace anxiety are
- Excessive or irrational worrying
- Trouble sleeping or staying asleep
- Feeling jittery
- Tiredness or Fatigue
- A feeling of a lump in your throat
- Dry mouth
- Sweating
- A pounding or racing heart
- Shaking or trembling
6 Steps to Support Your Anxious Employees At Work
While there are numerous ways you, as a manager, can support your anxious employees at work, here are a few prominent ones.
1. Adopt an open-door policy
An open-door policy implies that the doors of the senior executives are always open for the employees to walk in and share their concerns. An open-door policy helps build trust among your employees and encourages communication.
2. Flexible working arrangements
With tech advancements, it has become easier for employees to log in to the office network from anywhere in the world. So, if you spot your employees showcasing the tell-tale signs of workplace anxiety, ensure that they have a flexible working arrangement. You may also have to accommodate their therapy sessions.
3. Keep the channels of communication clear and honest
Communication is the best way to reach out to anyone. And honest and clear communication will help you win their trust. Offer to have a casual chat outside the office premises in a neutral environment. Take them out for tea or coffee outside the office and casually tell them they can trust you and come to you.
4. Create a soothing work environment
When we talk about a soothing work environment, we are not saying you need to create a spa-like ambiance at your office. A soothing work environment is an ambiance where your employees are heard, trusted, and not judged for their unwellness. Build a wellness culture at your workplace that puts the mental health of all your employees first. You can have therapy sessions or meditation sessions. You must also encourage short breaks from work to increase employees’ productivity and their mental health.
5. Set boundaries and lead by example
Set clear boundaries for work and leisure. Lead by example and adhere to the work schedule. Take a vacation yourself and encourage your employees to do so. Avoid checking work emails after a certain time. All this will relay a message to your employees that it is okay to shut work off for a while and concentrate on other aspects of life.
6. Make mental health a priority
You can conduct wellness surveys and have mental health experts come to your office for casual discussions. Wellness surveys can also be a gateway to teach your employees what resources are available to them should they feel stressed or anxious.
How Managers Can Help Their Employees with Anxiety
When an employee faces anxiety issues at work, address them with empathy. Your employees are human, too, and need your support during their tough times.
So, don’t dismiss their anxiety issues as ‘confidence’ issues. Because they are not. Don’t try to dissuade them by using performance-related threats. Yes, their performance suffers, but with the right support, they can also excel.
Follow these steps instead to see your anxious employee calm down and excel at their work.
Whenever you find your employees anxious, try to get to the root cause of their anxiety.
- Is it because of some deadline pressure?
- Is it performance-oriented?
- Is it some other work-related issue?
Whatever it is, talk it out with them in a friendly manner.
- Support your employees during transition times, such as when they return from a long break (maternity leave or study leave). Ensure the transition is smooth and gradual.
- Watch out for the tell-tale signs, such as frequent absenteeism or over-dwelling on worst-case scenarios are often the signals toward anxiety disorders.
- Make appropriate accommodations for your employees dealing with anxiety. Sometimes, the anxiety is less work-related than the scenarios behind the workplace. For instance, a working mother may get anxious about leaving her child in a day care that’s not close to her workplace. Make accommodations for that employee.
- Address mental health concerns openly. Share your thoughts on the issue and let your employees know that it is okay to have days when one is not feeling good mentally. Encourage taking breaks and rest time to recharge one’s batteries.
Conclusion
Workplace anxiety is not a disorder, but if not taken care of in time can result in disastrous results for both an employee and an organization. There are numerous issues that can aggravate workplace anxiety, and as a manager, it is your responsibility to ensure your employees are mentally healthy and fit. Remember, a true leader is always empathetic toward their employees.
