Member Article

London Vs. Yorkshire: Who’s More Stressed at Work?

London; the home of congested streets, overcrowded morning tube carriages, and some of the UK’s biggest businesses. You may find it surprising then, to learn that workers in London are in fact the least stressed of all the regions in the UK, according to statistics from the Health and Safety Executive. Perhaps even more peculiarly, workers from the peaceful region of Yorkshire and the Humber suffer the most stress and anxiety related to work. So, what’s the cause of all this anxiety, or lack thereof?

What is workplace stress?

Workplace stress, as defined by Bryan Richards of Arinite Health and Safety Consultants, is that which “supersedes the buzz of pressure, which can act as a motivating factor, to become excessive”.

In 2013/14, London workers reported only 1,060 incidences of stress, in comparison to the 2,140 cases reported in Yorkshire and the Humber. Also, whilst the number of fatalities and physical injuries resulting from workplace incidents has decreased or remained steady in the past five years, the reported incidences of stress amongst UK workers has continued to rise, from 400,000 in 2011 up to 487,000 in 2014. You can see a visual example of this jump in stress rates, and the difference in stress rates between the regions, on the health and safety tracker.

The situation up North

This information becomes particularly interesting when we consider that in many senses, Yorkshire and the Humber should be one of the most relaxing regions to live and work in. According to a survey by Post Office Travel Insurance of 2,075 UK adults, York was named the safest town in the world, with a notable lack of crime. Unemployment levels, which tend to have a large impact on anxiety and stress levels, are also reported to be at the same in both Inner London and in Yorkshire, at 8.6% respectively.

Relaxing Lifestyles

What is it, then, that has London’s workers so serene?

According to Dr. Sheri Jacobson, Clinical Director at Harley Therapy, the regional stress level gap may be due to opportunities specifically found in the UK capital. While Yorkshire may be one of the safest places to live and work, perhaps it does not provide the most opportunities for workers and this can lead to distress in their jobs.

Jacobson states that “for people living in London there are a wonderful set of opportunities, and a variety of social activities that can be life enhancing. There are fabulous parks that provide a range of activities, wonderful health centres and activities such as outdoor yoga.”

Despite common perceptions that London is a very industrial capital and a far cry from the relaxing scenes of the countryside, “many of [Jacobson’s] clients enjoy going outdoors. Ironically you can have a healthy lifestyle in London.” Meanwhile, although Yorkshire is a beautiful region that is rich in cultural history and open green spaces, there are perhaps fewer things to do or places to visit for those who have been living in the region for a long time.

Time and money

In addition to the recreational activities available, Jacobson also believes that there could be a financial aspect affecting the difference in stress levels. “Higher pay rates in London create a high standard of living that allows people to enjoy life, eat good food and take trips.”

The average annual salary for Londoners stands at £34,200.40 as of 2014, compared to £24,913.20 in Yorkshire and the Humber, according to the ONS. Workers in London may therefore have access to dispensable cash, allowing them to be unrestricted in their choice of leisure activities. A fully rounded social life may then positively impact their feelings towards work.

The impact of stress in the workplace

When stress at work leads to sickness absence, the average length of leave is reported to be 30.1 days per worker. In 2013/14 the UK lost a total of 11.3 million days to sickness leave, which costs society around 3.8 billion a year.

Richards suggests that workplace stress is “the responsibility of managers, who have a legal obligation to deal with and prevent elements of working life which lead to excess levels of stress in employees. Managers should carry out occupational stress audits and have a plan of action for controlling stressors.” Managers in regions where work-related incidences of stress are particularly high should, therefore, be making a special effort to address and deal with issues effecting employee’s feelings of mental wellbeing at work.

What do you think? Have you suffered from stress or anxiety because of work? What do you think constitutes a happy, stress-free workplace? Let us know below!

www.arinite.co.uk/arinite-health-safety-tracker-infographic/

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Katrina Hinrichsen .