What is Stress?

Stress is a universal experience that affects us physically, emotionally, and mentally. It's the body's response to excess worry or tension caused by difficult situations, triggering a cascade of physiological reactions. While a certain level of stress can be motivating, chronic stress can have detrimental effects on health and well-being.

What Causes Stress in the Workplace?

The causes of work-related stress are known to relate to poor management of these aspects of employment (demand, control, support, relationships, roles, change). The aim is to find a way of managing the demands of your role without additional stress that you can’t cope with.

Supporting Our Team: Mednet's Approach to Stress Management

At Mednet, we recognise the importance of supporting our employees' well-being, especially in today's fast-paced work environment. As part of our commitment to fostering a healthy workplace culture, we have implemented various initiatives aimed at addressing and managing stress effectively.

1.        Individual Wellbeing Action Plans

We understand that everyone's experience with stress is unique, which is why we offer individual Wellbeing Action Plans to our employees. These personalised plans provide a framework for employees to discuss their specific stressors and collaboratively develop strategies to manage them. Whether it's adjusting workloads, accommodating neurodivergent needs, or providing resources for mental health support, our goal is to empower employees to thrive in their roles.

The Wellbeing Action Plans also help managers and employees highlight early signs of excess stress, as we know that everyone manages and displays stress differently. By making sure we understand how individuals might present in stressful situations, we make it easier for managers to spot when they may need to step in and offer additional support.

2.        Social Events and Team Bonding

In addition to addressing individual needs, we recognize the importance of fostering a sense of community and belonging within our team. That's why we regularly organize catch ups, social events and team bonding activities to provide employees with opportunities to connect outside of the work environment. These events not only offer a welcome break from the demands of work but also help strengthen relationships, promote collaboration, and create a supportive network among colleagues.

3.        A Mental Health Hub

We’ve created an internal hub where our team can access all our mental health resources, including:

• Information about our mental health first aiders

• Slides and resources from mental health lunch and learns

• Signposting to external support

As we observe Stress Awareness Month, it's essential to acknowledge the impact of stress in the workplace and take proactive steps to support our employees' well-being. At Mednet, we are committed to creating a supportive and inclusive work environment where individuals feel empowered to manage their stress effectively. Through initiatives such as individual Wellbeing Action Plans and social events, we strive to prioritise the mental health and happiness of our team members, ensuring that they can thrive both personally and professionally.