Managing Stress, Supporting People: Expert Insights from Julie Routledge, Occupational Health Manager at Hovis®

April marks Stress Awareness Month, a timely opportunity to reflect on the importance of mental wellbeing in the workplace. As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting colleagues, Chloe Kay (She/Her) , Talent Manager at Hovis®, sat down with Julie Routledge , our Occupational Health Manager, to learn more about her role, her passion for health and wellbeing, and her expert insights on recognising and managing stress.

Can you tell us about your role at Hovis®? What does a typical day look like for you?

I'm the Occupational Health Manager at Hovis® and have been in this role for three years. I’ve worked in Occupational Health since 1993—so that's 32 years this year! Wow!

My day-to-day is incredibly varied. I support my team of up to seven colleagues (when fully recruited), and I often step in to cover site clinics if there's a vacancy. This helps ensure service continuity while we recruit and onboard new team members.

My responsibilities span across recruitment and onboarding of Occupational Health colleagues, complex case management, and providing clinical governance and advice to my team. I also ensure all sites meet their legal requirements for mandatory health screening, which we monitor monthly.

A big part of my role is leading the Health and Wellbeing programme at Hovis®. I’ve introduced monthly wellbeing materials, which includes webinars - both digitally and on our site-based wellbeing boards. We also launched a wellbeing and health app through our provider, Aviva, which not only gives colleagues access to online doctor appointments, but also an annual health check using a simple finger-prick blood test and much more.

What inspired you to pursue a career in health and wellbeing?

I've been a registered nurse since 1988, starting my training at just 18. Nursing is something I’ve always wanted to do. I think the inspiration came when I was 11 years old - I was scalded and spent a week on the burns unit at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. Even as a patient, I found myself helping the nurses and other children on the ward. That experience sparked a passion that's still with me today. I absolutely love what I do.

What are some common signs of stress people should look out for?

Stress is very personal—it’s more about how we perceive and react to triggers rather than being a medical condition in itself. If you can remove or manage the trigger, the stress usually eases.

That said, some common signs include feeling overwhelmed, unable to cope, overthinking, and disrupted sleep. For example, you may struggle to fall asleep because your mind won’t switch off, or you might wake up too early because your brain is racing again.

What are your top 3 tips for managing stress at work?

1. Speak up: Don’t suffer in silence. Talk to your manager or someone you trust. The earlier you seek support, the easier it is to manage.
2. Prioritise self-care: Sleep, eat, rest, repeat! Exercise is also brilliant - it helps boost serotonin and endorphins, which are our “happy hormones.”
3. Get professional help when needed: Whether that’s through your GP, GroceryAid, your manager, HR, or Occupational Health - reach out. Help is always available.

How can companies support better mental health and reduce stress in the workplace?

It starts with company culture. People need to feel safe to speak up about their mental health without fear of judgment or consequences. It’s also about having the right resources in place, promoting a healthy work-life balance, and managing workloads realistically. Open conversations and ongoing support can make a big difference.

What do you see as the future of wellbeing initiatives in the workplace?

I think we’ll see a stronger focus on people’s health as well as mental health and neurodiversity. It's important that wellbeing materials and resources are accessible to all colleagues, regardless of their role or location. We're currently working on launching a roadshow of benefits and support to help us reach more people and spread awareness of everything that’s available.

And finally, what’s your go-to stress buster when you need a break?

A well-deserved holiday! I love taking time out to relax, switch off, and spend quality time with my family. It really helps me recharge.