Ireland's finance pros feel the pressure

Are you stressed and overworked? You're not the only one.

One in three finance professionals in Ireland are stressed at work thanks to growth in the sector and ever-increasing workloads, new research has found.

While the amount of work on their plate is the main cause of this stress, other factors nearby on the table include the resulting lack of work-life balance according to the results of a survey carried out

by recruitment consultancy Robert Half Finance and Accounting.

Finance employers appear aware of the issue. Pearn Kandola, an occupational psychology practice in Dublin, is working with financial services organisations in Ireland to help them pinpoint sources of pressure.

"Companies need to look at awareness and resilience training, which gives staff a positive approach in how they organise their workloads," said Catherine Curran, an occupational psychologist at the firm. "At the organizational level, companies need to be realistic in terms of the work that needs to be done and to make sure they have enough resources to do the work."

Given the shortage of experienced talent in Dublin, finding these resources is likely to be part of the problem (and will probably add stress). But strangely enough, Robert Half's study suggested employees in the finance sector are calling on their employers to provide training like Curran's to help manage workloads, rather to give them less work.

This may not be the solution. "Finance professionals need to be careful as working on overdrive can be just as dangerous to their careers as simply 'getting by,'" said Ken Harbourne, branch manager of Robert Half in Dublin. "Taking on new projects and responsibilities is a great way to expand their skillset. However too much of a good thing can lead to burnout."