Work stress has a pattern, new data reveals

Recent workplace mental health research has homed in on seasonal data to offer better insight into when workers are experiencing stress the most.

A workplace study conducted by SuperFriend has focused on seasonal data retrieval information that could formulate strategies to alleviate stress and burnout for employees while addressing retention challenges for employers.

“Workplace challenges don’t follow an annual schedule, so our surveys shouldn’t either,” said Darren Black, chief executive of SuperFriend.

“By moving to seasonal data collection, we’re giving organisations and industries a more contemporary view of mental health in the work environment, enabling them to intervene and support employees when and where it’s needed most.”

According to the seasonal data, stress peaks in the months of June and December, aligning often with performance reviews as well as financial reporting, and deadline demands depending on holiday-related arrangements.

Both burnout and psychological fatigue gradually increase throughout the year instead of having certain months where they become overwhelming. The data noted that as the end of the year arrives, fatigue, reduced engagement, and overall strain on mental health become prevalent for a number of workers.

In terms of the retention challenges that employers face, employee satisfaction and intent to stay tend to improve mid-year until they drop sharply in December, signalling the need for sustained engagement efforts that extend for the entire working year.

“For the first time, we can confirm what many have suspected – workplace stress follows predictable patterns,” said Associate Professor Ross Iles, SuperFriend’s chief research officer.

“With this data, organisations can shift from reactive, one-off initiatives to proactive, year-round interventions tailored to industry-specific needs.”

The report states that as pressure evolves throughout different industries, whether due to financial or workload issues, investment in proactive and sustained mental health support is as imperative as ever.

This evolving pressure is best demonstrated in the healthcare and social assistance sector, as in the December period, 49 per cent of workers reported an inappropriate workload. This added pressure could be affecting workers mentally, as the healthcare and social assistance sector faces the highest risk of secondary trauma throughout the year.

Another industry facing challenges is the education and training sector, which held its best retention rates in June at 79 per cent. Yet as the year continues and stress builds, this figure declines to 70 per cent in December, displaying how workplace stressors fluctuate over time.