NATIONAL STRESS AWARENESS MONTH – STRESS IN THE

Celebrating International Week of Happiness at Work

The International Week of Happiness at Work is a globally recognised event that highlights the significance of creating a joyful and fulfilling workplace.This celebration isn't just about colourful balloons and office parties—it's about fostering an environment where employees feel valued, motivated, and genuinely happy to come to work each day. In this article, we’ll explore why happiness at work is crucial and provide practical tips on how employers and managers can celebrate and enhance happiness in their workplaces.Why is Happiness at Work Important? Increased Productivity Research consistently shows that happier employees are more productive. A positive work environment boosts morale, leading to increased motivation and efficiency. Happy employees are more engaged, less likely to take sick days, and more inclined to go the extra mile. Enhanced Employee Retention A workplace that prioritises happiness tends to have lower turnover rates. When employees feel appreciated and satisfied, they are more likely to stay with the company, reducing recruitment and training costs for employers. Improved Mental Health Promoting happiness at work also has significant benefits for employees' mental health. A supportive and positive work environment can reduce stress and prevent burnout, leading to a healthier, more balanced life for employees. Better Team Collaboration Happiness creates a sense of camaraderie and teamwork. Employees who are happy at work are more likely to collaborate effectively, share ideas, and support one another, leading to a more innovative and successful company. How to Celebrate the International Week of Happiness at Work Here are some actionable tips to help you celebrate this important week and promote happiness in your workplace: 1. Recognise and Appreciate Take time to recognise and appreciate your employees' hard work. Whether it's through verbal acknowledgement or formal rewards, showing gratitude to your employees can significantly boost morale. 2. Create a Positive Environment Ensure that your workplace is welcoming and comfortable. Invest in good lighting, ergonomic furniture, and add some greenery to create a pleasant atmosphere. A clean, well-organised workspace can greatly impact an employee's mood and productivity. 3. Encourage Work-Life Balance Promote a healthy work-life balance by offering flexible working hours, remote work options, and encouraging regular breaks. Support your employees in maintaining a healthy balance between their professional and personal lives. 4. Offer Professional Development Opportunities Invest in your employees' growth by providing opportunities for professional development. This could include training sessions, workshops, or even funding for further education. When employees feel that they are growing and advancing in their careers, it increases job satisfaction. 5. Host Fun Activities Organise activities that allow employees to unwind and have fun. This could be anything from team-building exercises, office games, or social events. These activities can strengthen bonds between colleagues and create a more enjoyable work environment. 6. Listen and Act Create way for employees to voice their opinions and concerns. Regular feedback sessions and surveys can provide valuable insights into what makes your employees happy and what could be improved. Be sure to act on their feedback to show that their voices are heard and valued. Conclusion The International Week of Happiness at Work is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the importance of creating a happy workplace and to take actionable steps towards achieving it. By promoting happiness at work, employers can foster a more productive, engaged, and fulfilled workforce. Remember, a happy employee is not just an asset to the company; they are the heart and soul of an organisation. Celebrate this week by making lasting changes that prioritise employee happiness, and watch your workplace transform for the better.Are you looking to strengthen your team with top-tier finance and accountancy professionals? At Sharp Consultancy, we excel in connecting your business with exceptional talent for temporary, interim, or permanent roles. With our well-established offices in Leeds and Sheffield, our experienced consultants are dedicated to serving businesses across Yorkshire and beyond. Don't leave your recruitment needs to chance—contact us TODAY and let's find the perfect candidates to drive your business forward.Resources:Happiness at Work - International Week of Happiness at Work

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April is National Stress Awareness Month. According to the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), there were 822,000 workers suffering from work-related stress, depression or anxiety in 2020/21*.

It is important to recognise the signs of workplace stress; if left unaddressed, workplace stress can have a huge impact on both employees and employers and it is vital that steps are taken. Understanding the cause – which may stem from work or possibly something occurring outside the workplace – is essential.

Identifying the cause of what triggers the feelings of being overwhelmed is the first step; has your workload dramatically increased? Have you taken on a lot of additional responsibilities? Are you dealing with resourcing issues within your team? Do you have a poor relationship with another colleague or your line manager? Once you understand what is at the root of problem, you can look to adopt tactics and strategies to try and manage the situation.

Here are our tips and suggestions to dealing with stress in the workplace:

Communicate: It is important to speak with your line manager if you are finding that your workload is unmanageable. Consider whether this is caused by a potentially temporary situation – such as a particularly busy period at work – or if this is something which has been building over a longer time period due to an allocation of additional tasks or resourcing issues within the team. Highlight key areas which may have become more challenging and have suggestions to put forward on how these can be better resourced or solutions to address the issues that have arisen.

Be realistic: You may be keen to show that you are a willing and capable employee and a good team member, but that doesn’t mean that you should always say yes to every request that is asked of you. If it is not feasible for you to take on additional tasks or meet the deadlines put forward, be honest and outline the reasons why and offer a feasible timeframe as an alternative.

Talk to others: As well as speaking to your line manager, a frank and honest conversation with friends, family or a trusted colleague to talk through the way that you are feeling bring clarity to a situation which may have initially felt overwhelming by enabling you to filter out which parts are the most important and focus your attention more clearly.

Take regular breaks: During the working day, make sure you are taking regular breaks away from your desk to refresh your mind. It is important to take a proper break at lunchtime to eat a healthy, nutritious meal that will set you up for the afternoon and make time to get outside and take in some fresh air. On a weekend, ensure that you use your time outside of work to relax and look after yourself.

Use your holiday allowance: Not taking your full holiday allocation – or feeling like you are unable to take time off – can be an indication that you are feeling overwhelmed at work so it is important that you schedule in regular holidays and days off to recharge your batteries.

Time for a new role?: If the things that are making you stressed cannot be addressed, then it might be time to think about whether a different role or organisation may be a better fit for you. Stress can be damaging to a person’s confidence so it is vital that any move is considered very carefully to ensure the opportunities available and culture of your potential new company is right.

Sharp Consultancy specialises in the recruitment of finance and accountancy professionals. With offices in Leeds and Sheffield our highly experienced team of consultants recruit for temporary, interim and permanent roles across the full spectrum of positions throughout Yorkshire and beyond. CONTACT US today and speak to a member of our team about your next career move or recruitment needs.

*HSE Work-related stress, anxiety or depression statistics in Great Britain, 2021. Published 16 December 2021