FEATURE TOPIC
activities allow you to de-stress and restock your levels of resilience. Getting plenty of rest allows you to recharge your body’s energy levels. When coupled with short breaks during your working day, it gives the body a chance to refuel while also lowering its levels of stored stress. Michelle Sutton: Managing stress during peak times requires a proactive approach. Here are some practical steps: l break down tasks into manageable chunks and prioritise them based on deadlines and importance l leverage payroll software to automate repetitive tasks, reducing manual workload and errors. Listen to the team experiencing issues and have dedicated collaboration meetings to problem-solve as a united group l encourage regular short breaks to prevent burnout and maintain productivity. I work flexibly around the weather to ensure I meet my dog, Benji’s needs, which supports my wellbeing too l foster a supportive environment where team members can share their workload and seek help when needed. Payroll teams often work long hours during peak times – how can you ensure the right work-life balance? JRC: To help build balance back into your work life and gain separation from your home life, it’s important to set definite limits. An example might be the hours you’re available during the day. Blocking out parts of your day allows you a period to relax and work on tasks without responding to queries immediately (unless urgent). Colleagues will soon get used to these windows of time, particularly if you reinforce your boundaries in an inclusive manner. It may also support your colleagues in creating their own separations. Using your break periods also gives you opportunities to recharge and see the world around you rather than solely the monitor and desk space. These times can also be used for non-work tasks such as reading a book or planning for an upcoming holiday. This can give you time for yourself and helps to relieve stress levels. Sarah Smith: Flexibility is key, although from experience, I can say there are many businesses that believe flexibility only works one way. When running a payroll there may be days where long hours or extra days
are required. After all, the deadlines aren’t flexible. However, there will be days when your personal life will need extra time, such as when children are ill or have school performances, when your car is in the garage or when you have an appointment. It works well when there’s a good team dynamic with clear communication. Be open and honest when you need time or support, keep each other accountable in the team with regular check-ins and challenge when someone is always working outside of their hours. I appreciate it’s much easier said than done, but it’s extremely important to unplug when off work, especially when on annual leave and weekends. Having that complete break away from work will help prevent burnout and maintain productivity. MS: Ensuring a healthy work-life balance is essential for maintaining employee wellbeing and productivity. Here are some strategies: l offer flexible working hours and hybrid work options to help employees manage their personal and professional responsibilities. Enable them to prioritise and work around key activities l promote the use of holidays and ensure your teams take time off to recharge. Have open and honest conversations with those resistant to booking time off l encourage teams to set clear boundaries between work and personal time, such as not checking emails after hours l implement wellbeing programmes which focus on physical, mental and emotional health, such as fitness classes, counselling services and stress management workshops. As part of our continuous improvement journey, we encourage employees to develop a digital profile. This not only enhances their digital skills but also supports their wellbeing through various digital tools and resources. We provide supportive apps such as: WeCare A health and wellbeing support service that offers personalised advice and resources to help employees manage their health and wellbeing. ToothFairy An app that connects employees with UK dentists to support their oral health, ensuring they have access to professional dental care.
provides real-time support from a real person, rather than a chatbot. This app helps employees navigate daily challenges and maintain their emotional health. How can managers identify signs of stress and burnout in their teams, and what can they do to provide support? JRC: Managers should ensure communication pathways are open and accessible. Through open communication, issues can be addressed in a supportive fashion. Simply sharing a conversation, even if not work-related, can help relieve levels of stress for all involved. By building these professional relationships, managers can be seen to have an interest in employees and their wellbeing. The same processes should also be available to managers with their department heads. If an employee’s behaviour has changed, this could be a sign of stress overload and possible burnout. Have there been later starts to the workday or more snapping between colleagues? It’s important that managers can identify these areas, and they should attend any training they feel would benefit them in this area. SS: Managers who encourage a healthy work environment, with open communication, will find it easier to spot the signs of stress and burnout. The obvious signs, such as changes in work performance, physical symptoms or emotional indicators, could also be the sign of an issue in their personal life and nothing to do with their work life at all. Being able to communicate openly and honestly can allow a manager to understand the situation and provide appropriate support. MS: Managers play a critical role in identifying and addressing stress and burnout. Here are some ways to keep track of potential issues: l have regular one-on-one meetings to discuss workload, stress levels and overall wellbeing. I check in throughout the day to catch up with my management teams l look for signs of burnout, such as decreased productivity, increased absenteeism and changes in behaviour or mood l foster an open and honest environment where teams feel comfortable discussing their challenges and seeking support l offer resources such as counselling services, stress management workshops and
MyStrength A day-to-day wellbeing coach app that
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| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward |
Issue 110 | May 2025
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