Stress in the workplace: Kirsty's story

With her can-do approach and dry sense of humour, Kirsty is a key member of the Charlie Waller office team. For Stress Awareness Month which lasts throughout April, she kindly told us about the workplace stress she experienced some years ago, in the hope that it might help others feel less alone with this serious issue.

Setting the scene of her previous role, Kirsty explains: “I was working for a global corporate which had 200 offices in the UK. I was the building manager, a role which I had always enjoyed. It was very busy and I enjoyed the variety and supporting the needs of the many different clients who occupied the serviced offices.”

I was working for a global corporate...I was the building manager, a role which I had always enjoyed.

During the pandemic, many of the company’s staff were furloughed, which meant that Kirsty was required to take on extra duties. She says: “As well as my usual tasks, I was expected to perform many others, including running the reception desk and cleaning four kitchens. I was used to being busy but with these additional duties, there weren’t enough hours in the day.”

I started to feel I didn’t want to go in to work, whereas before I’d always looked forward to it.”

Signs of stress

Towards the end of 2020, Kirsty started to experience signs of stress. She says: “I’d been with the company for seven years. I knew I was good at my job and I’d always enjoyed it. But I started to feel I didn’t want to go in to work, whereas before I’d always looked forward to it.”

There were other signs too: “I began to feel anxious and was thinking about work a lot when I was at home. I had difficulty sleeping and I would send myself emails in the early hours of the morning about things I suddenly remembered I had to do at work; one morning in the office I opened six emails I had sent myself at various times throughout the previous night. I was feeling tense, frustrated and snappy. It affected my home life and I didn’t feel I was getting on top of anything. Frankly, it was hell!”

The last straw

Kirsty tried speaking to her manager but was met with an unhelpful response.

Then, just before Christmas, someone made a critical remark about the level of cleanliness of one of the kitchens she was now responsible for, on top of her already demanding role. That was the last straw for Kirsty:

“I handed in my notice. Fortunately I was good friends with many of the clients in the building. I spoke to one of their HR managers off the record. They gave me helpful advice and I got signed off by my doctor for three weeks. When I returned to finish working my notice, the company quibbled about my return date, which sadly confirmed I had made the right decision.”

At Charlie Waller, it was a completely different experience. I now have co-workers and managers I can talk to.

And now...

Four years later and now working for the Charlie Waller Trust, Kirsty has clear insights into more helpful approaches towards employees experiencing stress. She explains: “At the end of 2023, I was signed off from my current role with stress related to my home life. At Charlie Waller, it was a completely different experience. I now have co-workers and managers I can talk to.

I feel I’m being heard and that my difficulties won’t be seen as weakness; I felt validated.

“My manager made a point of reassuring me that she was not going to let work pile up for me whilst I was off so I didn’t have to dread coming back to an overwhelming number of emails. She also gave me low level tasks when I returned, so that I could ease myself back into things. 

“I must admit, I had felt a bit freaked out on my first day at Charlie Waller in 2021 – my previous experience had been so awful and I suddenly thought ‘Oh no, what if it’s just as bad here?’ but I needn’t have worried – it’s so different and such a positive place to work.

What helps?

When you’re in the midst of stress, it can be hard to think of what will help, says Kirsty, but these are her personal top tips:

• Find at least one co-worker you can talk to.
• Have a chat and a catch-up with someone, even if you feel like hiding.
• Try and do things you enjoy, even if you don’t feel like it – once you start, it can really help.

There is more helpful information here:

Stress and supporting mental health