How to combat stress in Facilities Management

Stress can be surprisingly personal. Some people thrive on the same amount of pressure that triggers stress in others. But statistics reveal the scale of the problem

– around 875,000 British workers experienced work-related stress, depression or anxiety last year.

What are the most common stress factors at work?

Certain stress factors crop up again and again, including:

• Workload – Being constantly overloaded can be wearing.
• Conflicting demands – Tasks sometimes clash, as do family duties with work.
• Control – When others make all the decisions, it’s easy to feel undervalued.
• Working relationships – Tensions with colleagues can seep into every area of life.
• Change – People often feel anxious about change, especially if they aren’t consulted.

Based on our conversations with talent, here are their top five stress flashpoints in Facilities Management:

1. Operational overwhelm – Juggling priorities every hour of the day
2. Budget and staffing shortages – Running on stretched resources while safeguarding quality
3. Regulatory compliance – Meeting high-jinx challenges of standards and legislation
4. Technology – Feeling out of control with the pace of change
5. Clients and tenants – Managing expectations and conflicts.

How can Facilities Management leaders provide the right support?

UK employers have a duty of care for the physical and mental wellbeing of their staff. Make sure you’ve got effective support in place:

• Resourcing – Providing realistic levels of staffing, equipment and budget
• Training and development – Upskilling staff to meet the demands of their job
• Recognition – Appreciating achievements and effort
• Support – Putting wellbeing services in place, along with one-to-ones with managers
• Empowerment – Involving everyone in decision-making
• Work-life balance – Respecting employees’ boundaries and their need for time off
• Risk assessment – Consulting absence data to spot stress hotspots and addressing them
• Hybrid working – Giving people the flexibility to manage their lives.

What does a low-stress work environment look like?

Facilities managers keen to make the built environment less stressful can focus on:

• Light and air quality – Boost wellbeing with access to natural light and good ventilation
• Quiet zones – Allow everyone to manage their stress levels in their own way
• Social areas – Encourage people to chat and eat with colleagues
• Low-stress decor – Improve moods with natural interiors such as stone floors and calm colour themes.
• Flow – Allow people to move easily with the right layout.

How can you manage your own stress levels?

If you, as a facilities manager, are feeling stressed, try our tips and tricks:

1. Boundaries – Decide when you’re available and stick to it. Checking your emails at home will take its toll.
2. Support – Identify good listeners in your life and let people help you.
3. Breathing – We’re learning more and more about the benefits of good breathing techniques for both mental and physical health.
4. Relaxation – Find the technique that works for you. Try meditation or mindfulness.

Stress is a reality in life, but work is a biggie. It can grind down the strongest of us and result in burnout. We need to find the right remedies and give each other the support needed

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