Generational stress in the workplace

Stress is part of everyday life and we are all affected by it at some point. Understanding the factors that drive stress is the key to managing it and this has become increasingly important in organisations with multiple generations in their workforce.

Each generation has its own stress triggers and handles its stress in different ways. On top of the drivers that can affect everyone - changes to the work environment, a difficult situation, a new role or manager, deadline, risks, fear of failure or even something outside of work that generates negative thoughts - there are causes of stress that affect people in specific groups. For example, employees in their 50’s may be dealing with issues such as chronic physical ill health (which can of course have a significant effect on mental health), care of elderly parents or ‘empty nest’ syndrome. Millennials meanwhile could be dealing with anxiety about career progression, social media-related issues such as “FOMO” or low self-esteem that can also lead to anxiety and depression.

Stress can cause a huge number of problems in the workplace so it’s important for leaders to know how their employees handle stress and give them the right resources, whatever their generation. Annual stress audits, regular check-ins with managers and relevant training, development and wellness programme’s, will help organisations to limit stress in the workplace and create healthier, happier employees.

Whilst generational diversity can generate new perspectives, differing values and working styles can lead to conflict and stress. By creating a workplace that doesn’t contribute to unhealthy levels of stress and helps employees to reduce stress drivers, employers will benefit from increased productivity, reduced health care costs, and a more engaged culture.