MENTAL HEALTH, STRESS & WELLBEING
Facilities have also changed within the past decade. FMs face new challenges to navigate, which were not such a big focus of the role previously. For example, the spaces to inspect for maintenance and repair work are becoming increasingly complex, needing to withstand heavy traffic from employees, vehicles and the latest advancements in automation. Frequent foot and vehicle traffic also accelerates surface damage so repairs become even more time sensitive and costly to complete. Furthermore, their buildings must adhere to even stricter regulations and managers must be exploring digital innovation or risk getting left behind in the industry.
WHAT IS THE IMPACT? The result of these diverse contributing factors is stretched, stressed FM professionals who are considering quitting.
The latest research highlighted the impact of increased workloads, with 38% of FMs admitting that they often make mistakes because they have a lot on their plate. These mistakes not only threaten the safe, smooth- running operations of the facility but can also require additional time and budget to rectify them, resulting in even more pressure.
To measure the impact of the experience that FM’s report, Watco’s latest research explored attitudes towards stress, job satisfaction and wellbeing. Overwhelmingly, FMs do not feel supported. Despite navigating the management of growing workloads and budget cuts, more than one in three rarely feel like their work is recognised and rewarded. A third (34%) often feel lonely in their job too.
Almost 40% of FMs often think about leaving their role due to workload stress. The risk of losing invaluable experience and expertise is particularly alarming for facilities considering the concerns that the industry isn’t attracting young talent to replace those who are leaving. Over a third of those surveyed believe that there aren’t enough young people coming into the FM sector, with nearly as many suggesting that facilities management isn’t an attractive career for young people.
WHAT CAN EASE THE STRESS ON FMs? Although there is not a ‘quick fix’ that will transform workplace experience overnight, the research has highlighted several key factors that can be addressed with support.
With such a large proportion of FMs saying they often think about leaving their role due to workload stress, a big priority should be ensuring workloads are more manageable. It is reassuring to see that almost half of FMs (43%) agreed that the size of their maintenance team has grown within the past year, however, rising stress levels indicate that this is not enough to address the growing FM responsibilities and never-ending workloads. Therefore, in addition to being given new team members and bigger budgets from the business, FMs still need support with methods to increase efficiency and reduce the resource they need for traditionally time-consuming tasks.
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The research revealed that 40% struggle to find the time to overcome repair jobs as soon as they are spotted. This has a big impact on workloads because of the risk of accidents, but also because when surface damage is left to worsen in busy facilities, it can quickly become a larger repair job requiring even more budget for materials, the shut down of an area and multiple team members to carry it out. Taking a proactive approach to repairs will require more resource in the short term, however, will result in less downtime, resource and budget required in the medium to long term. By conducting regular site inspections with templated checklists and carrying out repairs when damage is in the early stages, FMs can minimise the input needed.
To address the concerns around facility safety, FMs can lead on educational sources from the wider industry. More than a quarter of FMs (28%) do not believe that employees are aware of potential hazards and know how to control/report any risks in their facility. Educating the whole team on potential hazards and the reporting process would empower each individual with the shared responsibility for ensuring safety within the facility, reducing the sole burden that is commonly on FMs today. Not only does this reduce some of the mental load currently placed on FMs around health and safety, it also allows more of their time to be dedicated to wider responsibilities, including personal development or new technologies that would increase efficiencies.
“OVER A QUARTER OF FMs (28%) DO NOT BELIEVE THAT EMPLOYEES ARE AWARE OF POTENTIAL HAZARDS AND KNOW HOW TO CONTROL/REPORT ANY RISKS IN THEIR FACILITY.”
In addition to training, FMs can use methods such as line marking to address safety concerns in larger, busier facilities. Using paint or tape to mark out pathways for pedestrians helps team members to navigate a large space more efficiently, and makes hazards easier to identify e.g. where vehicles might be turning. Making safety working practices easier for team members to follow can help to decrease the anxiety and mental load experienced by FMs around health and safety. Tape is particularly useful because layouts can also be reconfigured in line with facility updates without incurring additional budget.
For more information on the workplace experiences of FMs from the latest research, including additional recommendations from the experts, download Watco’s free report here.
https://www.watco.co.uk/overcoming-the-fm-landscapes-complexities www.watco.co.uk 37
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