Many people working in the financial sector experience considerable cognitive strain, which can affect memory, concentration and recovery. Changing skills and memory requirements also lead to feelings of inadequacy and concerns about their own and others' ability to cope.
Pro has been involved in the development of a new online resource from the Occupational Safety and Health Centre, which offers tips for brain-friendly work. It helps to identify stress factors and develop work environments where thinking and concentration are more successful.
- Information overload and rush will not disappear, but we can influence how we deal with them. Good cognitive ergonomics makes work manageable, reduces errors and strengthens our ability to cope. It's an investment in people and results, says Minna Davidjuk, National Collective Agreement Specialist for the financial sector.
Work in the financial sector is knowledge-intensive and stressful: rush, constant learning, changing regulations, multi-platform work, multi-channel communication and open office distractions challenge concentration and recovery. Forgetting to take breaks is detrimental to recovery.
Five ways to reduce stress
Increasing workloads are reflected in workplace performance and staff well-being. But there are some surprisingly concrete solutions that can make everyday life easier. We've put together five effective ways to make your staff's working day easier.
1. Common rules and communication channels
When a workplace agrees on common policies and channels and familiarises all employees with them, overlaps and misunderstandings are reduced. Clear alignment on response times eases the daily rush.
2. Predictable work patterns reduce interruptions
Support the rhythm of the working day by agreeing in advance when to focus, when to communicate and when to be available. This predictability reduces the need for constant reactivity and makes work more manageable.
3. Instructions in one place
By centralising work-related instructions and materials in one clear place and making searches work, reducing search time and unnecessary interruptions.
4. A common approach to uninterrupted work
Well-being at work improves when employees have a clear way of communicating their need for peace of mind and when this is respected. Work can also be facilitated through flexible working arrangements, such as flexible remote work.
5. Clear responsibilities and support for prioritisation
When roles and responsibilities are clear, work becomes less stressful. In addition, support for prioritisation helps to keep work manageable and prevents overload.