Flexible working hours reduce workplace stress, says study

Introducing flexible working hours would contribute most to reducing stress at work, according to a study by Cascade HR.

The research surveyed over 1,000 full-time or part-time employees and asked them what their employers could do to help reduce stress. Introducing flexible working hours was cited by nearly half of respondents.

Rewards

Nearly 40 per cent of respondents said that finishing early on a Friday would help to reduce stress, whilst nearly a third believe that a caring, friendly management style would be beneficial.

The research also found that recognising hard work with rewards would also help to reduce stress, with more than one in three respondents citing cash bonuses as a top reward and over a third saying holidays instead of cash.

Other measures that workers said that their bosses could introduce to help tackle stress included drinks on a Friday afternoon, task management software, relaxed management and having someone to pick up admin tasks.

Employees also believe that a tidy workspace, having music to play and having space away from their desk to chill out or eat during breaks would help to prevent stress and create a better work environment.

Content

Commenting on the research, Cascade HR Chief Executive, Oliver Shaw, said: “Fancy water features and expensive mindfulness classes might be fashionable – but clearly, looking at the results of this research, it’s the simple things that employers should be considering first.”

He added: “British employees are quite content with simple environmental enhancements – whether it’s music playing in the office or simply putting some chairs and perhaps some plants or a screen, to create a quiet, separate space within the office for relaxing during break times.”