As we enter our third general election in four years, as well as a constant reminder of the 2016 EU referendum, employees are suffering from election burnout and anxiety.
David Price, CEO of Health Assured, a health and wellbeing network has given some tips on how a workplace can support an employee through this politically tumultuous time. Mr Price, explains how voter fatigue is a genuine phenomenon, which occurs when people have to repeatedly vote.
Mr Price’s tips are:
Support and allow time
“Don’t tell your staff how to vote—don’t tell them that they have to vote—but be open and empathetic to the worries and fears they might be feeling. One way to combat voter apathy is to allow time off to cast a vote—as voting in the UK falls on a work day, it can be inconvenient for a lot of people who have busy mornings and evenings, for example with the school run. Giving these people an hour in the afternoon to get out and exercise their democratic rights could relieve a lot of pressure.”
Encourage friendly discussion
“This can be difficult, so use your discretion. But if you’re confident in the relationships between your staff, allowing and encouraging chat about the issues we all face going into this election can be a big stress reliever—just make sure that it doesn’t get out of hand! A healthy respect of each other’s opinions is the cornerstone of a good relationship, especially a working one.”
Suggest counselling
“With all the uncertainty in the press, it’s natural that people will feel nervous and anxious. As election season hots up, and manifestos land in people’s letterboxes, it can feel like doom and gloom—especially as this is a winter election, with the nights drawing in.
“If you have an employee assistance programme (EAP) in place, this is the perfect time to direct people to it. While the service won’t be able to tell people how to vote, the counsellors on the other end of the line will be able to offer solid, actionable advice on coping with the pressures and alleviating anxiety.”
Keep it up
“The pressures don’t end after election night. Whatever happens in December, whoever wins, we may be in for turbulent times ahead. Just be sure to offer all the advice above, and keep it up as we head into what will hopefully be a bright new year.”
The UK General Election will be held on the 12th December 2019.
Darius is the editor of HRreview. He has previously worked as a finance reporter for the Daily Express. He studied his journalism masters at Press Association Training and graduated from the University of York with a degree in History.
