Managers too stressed to support junior staff

Managers are too stressed themselves to notice that their team members aren’t coping, according to a new study from Bupa.

The research reveals that half (51%) of managers say they feel ‘constantly worried’ and a disturbingly high number (40%) have experienced depression as a result of being stressed – underlining that stress can be a ‘gateway’ to other mental health conditions. In addition, two in five (43%) middle managers think the pressure they are under at work is too great, saying that they often worry about work at home (47%).

Bupa’s research clearly indicates that the stigma attached to mental health problems still exists in UK workplaces, as stressed managers are suffering in silence.  Two out of three (67%) say they are likely to keep quiet about their stress. Only one in ten (12%) middle managers speak to their boss about their stress levels, with 15% concerned that it would make them appear ‘weak’.

As a result of being too stressed, managers are struggling to support junior colleagues with their own stress-related problems. Three in ten (29%) of those surveyed admit they do not have enough time to deal with team members’ stress, and one in four (25%) say that they feel too stressed to address these issues within their team.

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