Stress is something most people will experience at some point in their working lives. Busy periods, deadlines, changing priorities and pressures outside work can all contribute, and while a certain level of pressure can be manageable, prolonged stress can have a very different impact on how people feel, work and interact with those around them.
International Stress Awareness Week, taking place from 2 to 6 November 2026, provides an opportunity to bring that conversation into greater focus. This year’s theme, “Shaping the Future of Stress and Wellbeing: Rehumanising the Workplace,” encourages organisations to think more broadly about the role the workplace plays in supporting people and creating healthier ways of working.
At Atla Group, we believe workplace wellbeing should be viewed in much the same way. It should not simply be a collection of initiatives designed to address stress once it has become a problem, but part of creating an environment where people feel supported, connected and comfortable accessing help when they need it.
Wellbeing looks different for everyone
That thinking was behind our recent annual Wellbeing Day, which brought colleagues together at The Roundhouse for an afternoon away from their usual working environment. Rather than prescribing one idea of what wellbeing should look like, colleagues could choose from activities including yoga, journaling, pottery, Soundology, badminton, pickleball and Walk & Talk sessions, alongside dedicated quiet time for those who simply wanted an opportunity to switch off.
The variety reflects something that can sometimes be overlooked in conversations around workplace wellbeing: what works for one person may not work for another. For some, being active provides an opportunity to clear their head; for others, creativity, conversation or simply having some quiet time may be more valuable. Providing choice gives people the opportunity to engage with wellbeing in a way that feels meaningful to them rather than approaching it as a one-size-fits-all exercise.
Our approach also recognises that wellbeing extends beyond physical and mental health. During the year, colleagues have had opportunities to take part in financial wellbeing sessions covering topics including budgeting, emergency funds, mortgages, insurance, pensions and longer-term financial planning. Financial pressures can be a significant source of stress, and acknowledging the different factors that can affect wellbeing is an important part of providing relevant and practical support.
Creating support beyond organised initiatives
Dedicated events and activities have an important place, but an organisation’s approach to wellbeing is perhaps reflected most clearly in what happens on an ordinary working day. Feeling able to speak to somebody when things become difficult, having supportive colleagues and knowing where to turn for help can all influence how people experience work.
An important part of that support at Atla is our network of Mental Health First Aiders. These are colleagues who have received training to provide an approachable first point of contact for someone who may be experiencing a mental health difficulty or simply needs support. Their role is not to diagnose or replace professional mental health services, but to listen, provide initial reassurance where appropriate and help signpost colleagues towards further support.
We are also training additional Mental Health First Aiders across Atla, strengthening the support available within the Group and helping more colleagues feel confident having conversations around mental health. Increasing that network is one way of making wellbeing support more accessible as part of everyday working life, rather than something people only encounter through a dedicated wellbeing initiative.
This sits alongside the wider culture we want to continue developing. Atla’s 2026 Culture & Engagement Survey highlighted our people and supportive teams, flexibility, wellbeing support, training and development, and opportunities to connect with colleagues among the areas people value. It also identified areas where there is more work to do, reinforcing why listening and continuing to develop our approach is important.
One of the simplest examples of that people-focused approach came from this year’s Wellbeing Day through our Because of You initiative. Colleagues were encouraged to recognise someone who had made a positive difference to their work, wellbeing or everyday experience, whether that was through offering support during a difficult period, helping with a piece of work, making somebody feel included or simply being there when they were needed.
Although a relatively small gesture, it reflects something much bigger about workplace wellbeing. A positive culture is not created solely through policies, benefits or organised events. It is also shaped by everyday interactions between people and whether colleagues feel they work somewhere they can ask for help, have honest conversations and support one another.
Looking beyond Stress Awareness Week
Stress Awareness Week is valuable because it gives businesses and individuals an opportunity to pause and talk openly about something that can easily become normalised. However, meaningful workplace wellbeing cannot be confined to one awareness week, just as it cannot be delivered through a single initiative.
For Atla, the aim is to continue learning what works for our people while recognising that those needs will change over time. Sometimes support may take the form of a dedicated Wellbeing Day, a financial wellbeing session or access to a Mental Health First Aider. At other times, it may be much less formal: flexibility during a difficult period, a conversation with a colleague, an opportunity to step away from the desk or simply somebody noticing when another person might need some support.
There will never be one initiative capable of removing stress from working life entirely, nor would it be realistic to suggest there could be. What organisations can do is create an environment where wellbeing is treated as part of the everyday employee experience, conversations around stress and mental health can take place openly, and people know that support is available when they need it.
Stress Awareness Week is a timely reminder of the importance of those conversations, but creating a supportive workplace is something that matters throughout the year.
