Manage anxiety at work: Strategies for a healthier workplace
Anxiety can be a debilitating condition that affects many people in different ways, including in the workplace. Working parents and carers face unique challenges that can exacerbate their anxiety levels, such as balancing work and family responsibilities, financial pressures, and social isolation. Therefore, it’s essential for employers to recognise and address how to manage anxiety in the workplace to promote a healthier workplace culture for all employees, including working parents.
Our Strategy to Help Manage Anxiety at Work
Here are some strategies that can help employers and employees manage anxiety in at work:
- Encourage and role-model regular breaks: Taking regular breaks throughout the workday can help employees manage anxiety at work. Breaks can include taking a walk outside, practicing mindfulness or meditation or simply stepping away from the work environment for a few minutes. Line managers should be regularly reminding their remote team members to do this.
- Promote and role-model physical activity: Exercise can be an effective tool in managing anxiety. Employers can encourage employees to engage in physical activity by offering fitness classes or providing access to a gym or other exercise facilities.
- Provide access to Mental Health resources: Employers can provide access to mental health resources such as those available from the Mental Health Awareness Foundation Mental Health Awareness Foundation – promotors of Mental Health Awareness Week. Signpost specialist help and counselling which can be accessed confidentially (perhaps through an existing Employee Assistance Programme) for those employees who are struggling with high levels of anxiety. Additionally, providing training to managers and supervisors on how to support employees experiencing anxiety and other mental health challenges can help create a supportive and inclusive work environment.
- Encourage work-life balance: Encouraging work-life balance can help employees manage their anxiety levels by reducing stress and promoting self-care. Employers can offer flexible working and other benefits that promote work-life balance including work family balance coaching.
- Provide support for returning to work: For employees who have been absent, returning to work can be a daunting experience. Employers can provide support for returning employees by offering a gradual return-to-work programme and providing access to mental health resources.
Anxiety is a prevalent issue that affects many employees, including working parents. At Parent and Professional, we understand the challenges that working parents face and offer solutions to help them manage work-life transitions and bring balance to their careers and personal lives. Our experienced coaches and panel experts provide tailored support to help working parents overcome challenges such as anxiety, burnout, and other mental health issues. Through our coaching and workshops, we also help working parents build resilience and develop the skills they need to thrive in both their personal and professional lives.
Parent and Professional Helping Manage Anxiety at Work
If you are a working parent struggling with anxiety or other mental health issues, contact us to learn more about how we can help you bring balance to your work, family, career, and life transitions. We have packages of information that you can take forward to your HR department to help promote a healthier workplace culture for you and all other employees. If you are an HR professional, please get in touch to learn how we can support you in promoting employee well-being and managing mental health challenges in the workplace.