We all know the feeling: after a crazy commute, you get into the office – late – only to be confronted by a set of competing demands that do not make for a welcome start to the working day. An overflowing inbox, drawn-out conference calls and too many stakeholders demanding your attention can all lead to a sense that you’ve been cast adrift, with no direction and too much to do. And that can lead to stress.

International Stress Awareness Week, which takes place between 4th and 8th November this year, aims to bring this to public attention. HR managers and other workplace decision-makers would do well to take note, since 94% of people experience work-related stress but only 32% feel they can speak to their manager about it according to research by the International Stress Management Association (ISMA).

A report by business advisory service Willis Towers Watson found that, thanks to decreased productivity, increased turnover and sick leave, the poor mental health of workers cost employers between £33bn and £42bn a year. However, it also found that, for many companies, the wellbeing of employees had become “a strategic priority”. As well as being the right way forward from a human point of view, happier employees also lead to happier bottom lines.

So what can be done to reduce workplace stress? Environment can play a big part, and how you think about the physical space your employees inhabit can help. A cluttered office does little to encourage feelings of calm, or to instil a sense that you mean, well, business. What’s needed are stimulating surroundings – somewhere that provides order, a change of scenery and even the option to mix with others.

A shared coworking space can help to mitigate job stress. As well as desk space, flexible office-providers like IWG equip their properties to combat the effects of what could otherwise prove to a busy, high-pressure situation: indeed, managing stress at work is high on the agenda when it comes to designing somewhere that encourages productivity.

Many of the offices in IWG’s Regus brand include breakout areas for those moments when you need to step away from the screen and share a coffee with a colleague, and meeting rooms can also provide a space to pause, think and reflect. The benefits of coworking extend well beyond the physical, too: sharing a space with another business exposes your employees to all kinds of people they might not otherwise come into contact during their working day, and with it the chance to mingle, network – and perhaps even gain an entirely new perspective on life.

Another IWG brand, SPACES deals with the topic of stress at work by placing design at the centre of the agenda. Think exposed brick, well-appointed armchairs and sofas, and cosy nooks in which to lose yourself and you’ll get the picture. A coworking or flexspace environment also opens up the prospect of flexible working, which studies have shown time and again to have a hugely positive effect on health and wellbeing. Indeed, in this 1 Million for Work Flexibility interview, the award-winning psychologist Ron Friedman said: “We have decades of studies showing that people are happier, healthier, and more productive when they feel autonomous.” Essentially, the author of The Best Place to Work: The Art and Science of Creating an Extraordinary Workplace says, the more autonomous we feel the more engaged we are likely to be.

Thanks to technology, the world of work is speeding up – and that brings obstacles as well as benefits. But fortunately, there are many ways in which an employee’s working environment doesn’t need to be one of them. By prioritising health and wellbeing – ensuring workloads are realistic, employees are in charge of their own destinies, and there’s a pleasant office in which to operate – an HR manager can ensure their workforce is a happy and productive one.

Check out www.iwgplc.com for flexible office-space solutions to reduce workspace stress for your employees