Reasonable Adjustments Series: Anxiety 

This blog is written by Barrie Norman Jnr – Senior Mental Health First Aid and Suicide First-Aid trainer, and Operational Lead.

Anxiety is something most of us experience at some point in our working lives. In the UK, millions of working age adults report symptoms of anxiety each year, which means it is very likely present in every workplace, whether it is spoken about or not. 

Over the years, I’ve spoken to many people about anxiety at work, both professionally and personally. One thing that comes up time and time again, is how invisible it can be. From the outside, someone may appear calm, organised, and coping well, while internally they’re expending huge amounts of energy just to get through the day. 

I often think about anxiety like the Upside Down in Stranger Things. On the surface, everything can look familiar and functional. But underneath, there’s a parallel experience happening that others can’t see unless they know what to look for. Reasonable adjustments are one of the ways we shine a light into that hidden space and make work feel safer and more manageable. 

This blog is part of our Reasonable Adjustments Series, where I explore how small, practical changes can remove barriers at work and help people perform at their best.  

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A key clarification: anxiety and anxiety disorders

Before going any further, I think it is important to clarify something that is often misunderstood. 

Anxiety itself is not a mental health condition. It is a normal human response to pressure, uncertainty, or perceived threat. Many people feel anxious before presentations, during periods of organisational change, or when workloads increase. 

A mental health condition may be diagnosed when someone experiences an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders involve persistent and excessive anxiety that continues over time and has a substantial impact on day-to-day functioning. 

From a workplace perspective, I encourage employers to focus less on labels and more on impact. Whether anxiety is situational or part of an anxiety disorder, the right support and reasonable adjustments can make a meaningful difference and prevent problems from escalating. 

How anxiety can affect someone at work

In my experience, anxiety is rarely about a lack of ability. More often, it’s about the constant mental noise that comes with trying to anticipate problems before they happen. That hypervigilance can look like over preparation, avoidance, or perfectionism, when, in reality, it’s someone doing everything they can, to stay afloat. 

This may include: 

• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions 

• Avoidance of meetings, presentations, or phone calls 

• Increased sensitivity to feedback 

• Perfectionism or fear of making mistakes 

• Fatigue, irritability, or physical symptoms such as headaches 

What is often overlooked is that many people experiencing anxiety are highly capable and motivated. Without the right support, however, anxiety can start to affect performance, confidence, attendance, and retention.  

Reasonable adjustments and the Equality Act

Under the Equality Act, employers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments where a physical or mental health condition has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on an employee’s ability to carry out normal day to day activities. Anxiety disorders can fall within this definition. 

Reasonable adjustments are not about lowering standards. They are about removing unnecessary barriers so people can work effectively and sustainably.