5 Signs Your Team May Be Struggling With Workplace Stress

Workplace stress isn’t always obvious.

While some employees may openly say they are feeling overwhelmed, others will continue to turn up, meet deadlines and appear to be coping — while quietly struggling behind the scenes.

For employers and managers, recognising the early signs of workplace stress can make a significant difference. Creating a culture where people feel able to talk about their wellbeing, and addressing pressures before they escalate, can support both employees and the wider organisation.

Here are five signs that could indicate members of your team are experiencing workplace stress.

1. Changes in behaviour or personality

One of the first things you may notice is that someone simply doesn’t seem like themselves.

A normally sociable employee might become quieter or withdraw from colleagues. Someone who is usually patient may become more irritable, frustrated or emotional. Others might appear distracted, anxious or unusually negative.

A change in behaviour does not necessarily mean someone is experiencing workplace stress, but it can be a useful prompt for a supportive conversation.

Rather than asking, “What’s wrong with you?”, managers can create an opportunity to talk by simply saying, “I’ve noticed you seem a little quieter than usual. How are things?”

2. Increased absence or presenteeism

Stress can sometimes result in increased sickness absence, but it can also lead to the opposite: presenteeism.

This is when someone continues to work despite being physically or mentally unwell and may struggle to perform at their usual level.

You might notice employees regularly working through lunch, staying late, logging on outside their normal hours or feeling unable to switch off from work.

A workplace culture that unintentionally celebrates overworking can make this worse. Employees need to know that taking breaks, using annual leave and maintaining healthy boundaries are encouraged rather than viewed as a lack of commitment.

3. A noticeable drop in performance

We all have less productive days, but sustained stress can affect concentration, memory, decision-making and motivation.

Someone who has previously been reliable may begin missing deadlines, making unusual mistakes or finding it difficult to prioritise their workload.

It can be easy to view this purely as a performance issue. However, before jumping to conclusions, managers should consider whether there may be something else happening.

A supportive conversation about workload, expectations and wellbeing may uncover challenges that can be addressed before they become more serious.

4. Disconnection from colleagues

Healthy workplace relationships can be an important protective factor for wellbeing.

If someone begins avoiding meetings, social interaction or team activities, it may be worth checking in.

Stress can cause people to withdraw, particularly when they feel overwhelmed or worry that admitting they are struggling will be perceived negatively.

This is where workplace culture becomes particularly important.

Employees are more likely to speak up early when they believe they will be listened to, treated respectfully and supported without judgement.

5. Your whole team feels exhausted

Sometimes workplace stress isn’t about one individual — it is a sign that something within the organisation needs attention.

If several employees are reporting feeling overwhelmed, workloads are consistently unmanageable, sickness absence is increasing or morale is noticeably declining, it may be time to look beyond individual resilience.

Consider the wider working environment.

Are workloads realistic? Are responsibilities clear? Do employees have enough autonomy? Are managers equipped to have conversations about mental health? Do people feel psychologically safe enough to raise concerns?

Supporting workplace wellbeing isn’t simply about encouraging employees to become more resilient. Organisations also need to consider whether their systems, expectations and culture allow people to work well.

What can employers do?

The good news is that employers don’t need to have all the answers.

Small changes can have a significant impact: regular wellbeing check-ins, clearer communication, realistic workloads, appropriate training for managers and creating clear routes to professional support can all help.

Most importantly, workplace wellbeing needs to become part of everyday organisational culture rather than something discussed only when somebody reaches crisis point.

At Eudaemonia Wellbeing Centre in Norwich, we believe prevention and early intervention are key. Alongside therapeutic support, we work with organisations to help strengthen workplace wellbeing through training, education and practical approaches to supporting mental health.

Because a healthier workplace isn’t just better for employees — it can help create stronger, more sustainable organisations too.

Eudaemonia Wellbeing Centre | Norwich
Workplace Wellbeing • Mental Health Support • Training • Talking Therapies