Outdoor workers are among the most stressed employees in the UK, with workload pressures such as tight deadlines, long hours and staff shortages driving rising stress levels across outdoor industries.
A recent study released for Stress Awareness Month this April found that nearly three-quarters (72%) of people who work outdoors (either all or part of the time) report moderate to very high stress levels at work. This is significantly higher than that of indoor workers, where just over half (56%) report these same levels of stress.
According to the survey of 500 UK workers by Monster-Mesh, event and construction branding specialists, stress levels aren’t getting any better either, with over two-thirds (69%) of outdoor workers saying their stress is either the same or higher than it was 12 months ago.
Despite common assumptions that the most stressful part of the job for outdoor workers is bad weather, physical labour or safety risks, the research found that workload and business pressures are actually the biggest causes of stress. Tight deadlines were named as the most stressful aspect of the job (26%), followed by long hours (23%) and staff shortages (22%). Dealing with clients or customers (20%) and high workloads (19%) were also among the most common causes of stress.
In contrast, factors often associated with outdoor work ranked lower. Working in extreme weather was cited by just 13% of workers as a major cause of stress, while health and safety risks were cited by 12%.
Unsurprisingly, this stress is having a noticeable impact on workers’ wellbeing. The most common symptoms experienced by outdoor workers due to stress include anxiety (36%), physical exhaustion (34%) and trouble sleeping (32%). Many workers also reported strained relationships (18%), reduced productivity (17%), taking time off work (15%) and depression (14%) as a result of stress.
The link between male-dominated industries and poor mental health
Outdoor industries such as construction and utilities are predominantly male, and mental health can often go unspoken in these environments. Male construction workers in the UK are 3.7 times more likely to die by suicide than the national average, according to a survey carried out by Mates in Mind.
What’s more, many workers may not recognise that stress is affecting them until it begins to show through physical symptoms, burnout, or more serious mental health issues. This is why it’s so important to spot the signs early, before they develop into more serious health problems.
Lucas Whitehead, Head of Partnerships at Andy’s Man Club told Monster-Mesh,
“Encouraging open conversations whilst making the right support visible and accessible can help workers address stress earlier, preventing it from escalating into a more serious physical or mental health emergency. We face a crisis whereby a high proportion of men do not recognise stress and life crises as mental health challenges, and they are viewed merely as life challenges that we should all get through. Reaching out for help early is key to preventing this escalation.
“The findings of the recent research piece carried out for Stress Awareness Month are deeply concerning. To hear that 72% of outdoor workers report moderate to high stress at work is especially problematic, given the fact that outdoor work is more likely to feature an increased risk of danger. It is paramount that this issue is addressed and that the awareness of services like ours is heightened in the hope that people come forward early before issues develop.”
Luke shares four resources for those experiencing stress at work:
- ANDYSMANCLUB
- We run peer-to-peer support groups for men over 18 going through storms in their lives, every Monday at 7 pm, excluding bank holidays. Clubs are free to attend with no registration required. To find out more, email info@andysmanclub.co.uk or head to www.andysmanclub.co.uk
- ANDYSMANCLUB is a peer-led charity, so we are not professional mental health support workers. If you need different support, please contact one of these excellent groups.
- SAMARITANS
- If you need to talk to someone urgently, you can call the Samaritans free any time, from any phone, on 116 123.
- CALM
- CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) run a free and confidential helpline and livechat – 7 hours a day, 7 days a week for anyone who needs to talk.
- CALL 111
- You can now call 111 free of charge and select option 2 to be connected to a mental health professional.
- If someone’s life is at immediate risk, please contact 999.
Workplace culture and stigma may be preventing many outdoor workers from speaking openly about stress or seeking help, and so to help tackle this, Monster Mesh has collaborated with UK men’s mental health charity Andy’s Man Club to raise awareness across construction and other outdoor industries.
Using site barriers and fence covers that share the message that “it’s okay to talk”, the initiative links closely with recent survey findings about outdoor worker wellbeing. By bringing mental health messaging directly onto sites and workplaces, the campaign aims to break down barriers and make support more visible and accessible to workers who may otherwise struggle in silence.
Find out more about the survey findings or exclusive #itsokaytotalk fence covers on the Monster-Mesh website.
