I generally have nothing but praise for Harvard Business Review but occasionally they get things wrong. Very wrong. 

In a recent article, the author points out that 80% of the working population reports stress at work in the US, a figure consistent with the UK. The most cited causes are:

– Low pay
– Unreasonable workloads 
– Hectic commuting

Considering how much commute affects the workforce, it begs the question what are managers and the government thinking when they force workers who can remote-in to be in the office. 

Now, let’s make something bad even worse: the opinion of the article’s chosen expert, which I quote: “people walk into work already laden with stress. If there is a hardship at home, you bring that to the office and it gets layered with your professional stress and — if you’re not careful — it can spiral out of control.”

We have just established low pay, unreasonable workloads and commute as top causes for stress, yet according to experts, it’s just that you bring your home stress to the office and it compounds? OH. MY. GOD.

More than 3/4 of the workforce are ready to walk out because they feel underpaid, and overworked. I know there are no simple solutions in growing businesses or startups, where budgets are tight and the culture is to push yourself and others to the limit and beyond… but a mentality shift can be a great starting point. 

As managers and leaders we have a duty to act on feedback. We must listen, instead of convincing ourselves ‘it must be something else’. If we don’t, we risk having on less than 1 in 4 in our teams left to lead or manage. While the solution may be beyond our means, listening never is. 

It’s common knowledge that professional athletes train every day, but only on a few occasions they push themselves 200%. Why? Because otherwise, they risk injuring themselves and underperform. 

There’s something there to learn.