The overall employee stress levels have risen nearly 20% in three decades. 76% of employees accept that workplace stress had a negative impact on their personal relationships. – Forbes
Employees often spend a significant part of their waking hours at the workplace. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that work can be a major source of stress. Performance evaluations, tough bosses, nosy coworkers, challenging clients, customer relationships, and many more can serve as stressors for employees. Workplace stress can poorly affect your workforce’s performance and may even cause them to be less productive. Employers can play a major role in reducing stress level. How? Here are some proven ways.
Stress not only makes an employee behave inappropriately but also weaken their decision-making ability. Introduce stress management course in your workplace to help your employees recognize the symptoms and sources of stress. Once your HR department is aware of the causes, they can take adequate measures to manage stress well, benefitting everyone in the organization. The blended learning course will help them:
A considerable number of researches show that exercise acts as a stress buster. Any kind of physical exercise or activity is vital to maintain not only physical but also mental wellbeing. Exercise reduces fatigue, improves alertness, concentration, and individual’s general cognition. Create an environment that fosters employees to exercise regularly. Ask your HR department to encourage your workforce to engage in some kind of activity, for example:
Open communication is vital for leadership. Keep your employees up to date regarding changes, expectations and performance. It not only keeps them on track but will also reduce the feelings of stress and anxiety. The more you communicate with your employees, the more likely they will share their concerns and thoughts. It will lead to a stress-free and healthier company culture.
Here, it is also important to provide regular feedback to your employees. Employees want to receive regular feedbacks even if they don’t ask for it. Every employee wishes to be aware of his/her performance and how it is contributing to the company’s overall goal. When conducting performance appraisals, evaluate that the realistic objectives are set and expectations are controlled. If employees need improvement, explain to them how it can be done. A poorly delivered feedback session could have a negative impact on employees that might lead to stress among them. Your supervisors and managers should be skillful enough to have a meaningful conversation with their employees and ensure 360-degree feedback.
90% of employees feel refreshed and ready to get back to work after a proper lunch break. – Forbes
Employees who take regular breaks are found more productive in their work. Sometimes, people need to get away from their desk and relax for a few minutes. A chill-out space or a quiet room can help them engage in lighter talks with their coworkers and de-stress themselves. These few minutes can dramatically reduce workplace stress and burnout. Thereby, employers can allocate one specific area at workspace with comfortable seating with soothing décor where employees can take short breaks, free from distraction. It will help them feel refreshed and re-energized to tackle the work once they return to their desks.
Not all businesses are well suited for a virtual workforce. Businesses can’t compromise the productivity of the organization if they need their employees to arrive at work in person. However, an option to work remotely in case of an emergency will be appreciated by your workers and also lower their stress. Allow work from home or flexi-time for good morale and profitability.
Employee stress leads to poor job performance, employee dissatisfaction, and talent loss. There are multiple ways employers can foster the workplace environment to reduce employees’ stress and lead to a more productive and energized workforce. In fact, it can also be used as a recruiting tool for attracting top talent from the industry.
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