Housing professionals' stress levels are rising and the problem is threatening staff retention and morale. In new research for Housing Today, Robert Smith outlines the scale of the problem – and what people are doing about it
Tense? feeling overworked? You're not the only one. Stress in the housing sector is growing: in new research from recruitment consultant Hays Montrose for Housing Today, almost half the people surveyed said they were considering leaving the industry because of it. And stress is taking its toll on bodies and minds: more than one-fifth of respondents said they had missed work as a direct result of stress-related illness.

The causes
The main wellsprings of stress identified by respondents are work volume, unreasonable deadlines, unclear demands and frequent changes in work practice. This gets worse when resources and staffing are inadequate.

Poor management is a major cause of complaint. Senior managers are seen as aloof and out of touch with the challenges faced by workers on the frontline, while many respondents believe their managers' expectations are too high. Some interviewees point to the need for management to rethink its values. They say it is unhelpful for managers to focus on negatives and emphasise the need for positive feedback.

Some employees exist in a climate of fear, believing they cannot talk about problems openly without recrimination. Other major sources of stress are the feeling that one's colleagues are not very good at their jobs, bad communication and a lack of teamwork.

The levels of stress experienced by staff do not always correlate with their day-to-day responsibilities or area of work. However, there is a strong relationship between the problem and a sense of powerlessness. Interestingly, women report significantly higher stress levels than men.

The cure
If measures are put in place to reduce workplace stress in housing, job satisfaction and overall wellbeing within the sector will increase. However, until then, individuals will have to learn coping strategies to help themselves as much as possible.

Spending time with one's family and enjoying hobbies outside of work can be a great help – one in five respondents used this as a stress-busting technique. Prioritising or delegating tasks can also help, but 4% of respondents said they worked longer hours as a result of their stress.

Managers are key: a change in culture will go a long way to reduce the problem and 13% of respondents said they had spoken to their manager about the situation. There are no quick fixes, but as the research shows, the industry must begin to look at the issue with the seriousness it deserves.

The effects

  • 46% of respondents have considered leaving the sector in order to reduce their stress
  • 17% intend to leave the sector within the year; 3.8% are unsure if they will stay
  • 39% would not recommend working in housing
  • 24% have been absent as a direct result of stress-related illness
  • More than one-third believe their workload is unmanageable most of the time
  • More than one in five usually find their work unsatisfying or unrewarding
  • Almost half are unhappy with their prospects of promotion
  • A quarter rarely or never believe that their salary reflects their workload and level of responsibility
  • Almost two out of five respondents that have worked within other sectors say that the housing sector is more stressful
The figures are taken from interviews with Hays Montrose candidates based in the sector’s four main areas: corporate services, housing management, care and support, and development and regeneration. The results were based on responses from 132 employees within the housing sector – 70 women and 62 men – from councils and registered social landlords. They worked at all levels, from clerical staff through to directors, but a third were office and project workers.

Downloads

Source

Housing Today

Postscript

Robert Smith is managing director of Hays Montrose