Stress levels in the workplace on the rise

The survey has found stress levels in big businesses, defined as those with over 50 staff, rose by 35.6 per cent. Photo / iStock

We are more stressed, take more days off and still go to work when sick, a wellness in the workplace report has found.

Southern Cross Health Society and Business New Zealand's nationwide study of 113 employers, with 116,000 employees, also found that 80 per cent of workplaces did not cater for the ageing workforce and only a third provided health insurance for their staff.

The survey, titled Wellness in the Workplace, has found 35.6 per cent of big businesses, defined as those with over 50 staff, reported an increase in stress levels, compared with 23.3 percent of smaller businesses. The top reasons for stress and anxiety increasing were general workload, relationship issues, long hours, pressure to meet targets and financial concerns.

BusinessNZ chief executive Phil O'Reilly says stress in the workplace is a critical issue.

"Businesses need to try and mitigate this to get the most out of their workforce and give their workers the best environment possible to be productive."

When it came to wellness the number of days lost in 2014 were 6.7 million working days, up from 6.1 million in in 2012. The average number of absentee days per employee was 4.7 - amounting to a national cost of $1.4 billion in 2014.

Larger businesses were also more likely to have high rates of absenteeism, though 35 per cent still went into work when sick, despite a push for businesses to make them stay home.

The top reasons for staying home from work were illnesses, injuries, caring for a dependent, medical appointments or a sense of entitlement that paid sick leave is for the taking.

Southern Cross Health Society Chief Executive Peter Tynan says stress had a negative effect on health.

"High levels of stress tend to lead to health issues in the long run. It takes time and effort to train and develop staff, so looking after them and providing a healthy workplace is just good business practice."

He recommends employers look to manage stress with flexible hours, employee assistance programmes, health checks and devices that allow staff to work from home.

The Facts:

• 6.7 million working days lost to absence in 2014

• 4.7 was the average number of absentee days per employee in 2014

• Staff at larger organisations were more stressed and take more sick days

• 80 per cent of businesses don't have policies in place for the ageing workforce and don't believe it's necessary

• 1/3rd of businesses provide staff health insurance