Stress Management in the Workplace; Increase the Efficiency of your Employees
You may be aware that we are currently experiencing an era when mental health concerns are being discussed and impacted the most. Even if individuals are aware of the numerous problems related to mental health and how detrimental they may be, they still don't always know how to handle them. Given that so many of us suffer from stress and anxiety brought on by unfavourable job conditions, the workplace is certainly one of the places most affected. We can't just keep going because work occupies such a significant portion of our lives. Living with it is just not sustainable!
Stress can be a major factor hindering your business's performance. It takes a toll on both the employees and the organisation, particularly when it goes unchecked for too long.
Stress management in the workplace is very important. The employees have to be well organised, so they can handle their work efficiently and naturally. If people are under stress and do not feel comfortable or happy in their workplace, the results will be poor productivity levels, a slower speed at work etc., which would not be good for any organization.
Stress is an unavoidable part of life but if you don't manage it well, it could have a negative impact on your health, relationships and career. However, the right training and methods for managing stress in the workplace can help achieve a high-performance level from employees as well as make them more productive.
Negative Impacts of Stress at the Workplace
Stress is not just a mental issue. It can have physical effects on your body and cause problems in your personal life as well. Stress doesn’t allow an individual to function at their top potential but usually makes them less of who they are. It hides one’s actual capabilities.
Some negative effects of stress are:
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Muscle pain (back & neck pain, joint pains)
- Slow reaction time
- Forgetfulness
- Anxiety
- Depression
Such effects make it hard to function normally. Extreme pressure or an unfriendly environment hampers productivity and decreases motivation.
Employees when over-stressed cause a lot more absenteeism. Many will be reluctant to work in teams and on large projects. Productivity and efficiency will keep going down. Stress also becomes the reason for the excessive use of substances like alcohol or nicotine.
Long-term issues involve cardiovascular diseases and immune system problems. Vitamin deficiency is yet another negative effect. Surely, Such problems will throw a company’s health care cost through the roof.
Let us look at ways to manage stress effectively in your workplace so that your employees are happy and work efficiently, as well as enjoy their work.
Effective Stress Management in the Workplace
Your employees are one of the most crucial components in taking your organization to success. The happier they are, the more efficient their work is and the faster you’ll grow! This is one of the key ways large companies today have reached such success. They invest in employee wellness programs.
Trust me, spending on your employees is never a cost, it’s an investment that yields fruitful results for everyone!
Worried about how to manage stress in the workplace? We offer you the best strategies that are the most productive!
Employee Wellness Programs!
One of the best and easiest ways to do this is to invest in an employee wellness program such as the resiliency program. This program is designed specifically for reducing workplace stress and burnout.
The focus is on improving the happiness and productivity of an organisation by evaluating the current state of its employee’s mental health and providing an action plan.
Firstly, the mental state of the organization’s employees is measured. After reaching a conclusion, an action plan including lifestyle changes, nutritional supplements, mindfulness training and workplace changes are provided.
If you are looking to reduce stress and burnout in your organisation and want your ROI to shoot up once again, be sure to check out The Resiliency Program.
Encourage Exercise and Nutrition
Exercising regularly and eating healthy are the two best options when dealing with stress in the workplace. It releases endorphins and takes your mind off work. Encourage employees to take small walks during lunch breaks. You can even organise small marathons for the employees which they will enjoy. Sponsor their gym memberships or organise a yoga session once or twice a month.
Provide healthy snacks for your employees at the office. This will also make them feel cared for and appreciated. Make sure the fridge is filled with good coffee and healthy snacks!
Flexible Hours and Remote Work
Often employees get the feeling that they are being locked up in a cell as they have to punch in every morning at the right time and cannot leave until work ends. This can severely result in negative moods and stress. Also, achieving a positive attitude is possible when an individual has time for a morning routine where he can wake up and complete all morning tasks easily. Having strict regulations on arrival time can hamper that.
It is recommended to allow flexible work hours that focus more on the quality of work in a timely manner rather than the presence of the employee within the office. Remote working is also something every organization is offering now.
Changes in the Workplace
Making sure your hard workers are comfortable is another step to achieving a stress-free environment. This involves good seating arrangements that keep their posture correct. Bad postures lead to back and neck pains which is quite inefficient.
Let your employees have some personal space whenever needed. This could be increasing the height of cubical walls or making separate places for lunch, having a cafeteria, or meeting rooms.
Cafeterias will also improve social interactions among employees which can have a positive impact as well.
Promote Fun in the Office!
As bizarre as it may sound, this is perhaps the most effective way to reduce stress and create a happier environment. Bring some table tennis or pool tables in the office where employees can take short breaks. Involve indoor games!
Organise fun events and parties for workers to socialize. You can also include ‘No Meetings Monday’ or ‘Pizza Party Fridays’ every week. Include unique days every week for some excitement.
Management
A lot of the time stress and burnout often happen due to employees feeling overburdened or not having clear directions. They feel all over the place when they lack proper planning. This is where management comes to the task. Having clear communication on how your team is feeling mentally and keeping their tasks organised is very crucial.
Managers can regularly have a talk with team members about their stress and burnout to help manage accordingly. Even issues such as bullying, discrimination or disrespect can be avoided with good control by the hierarchy. A proper way of handling the workload should be implemented. Burdening the employees with too much work should be avoided.
Conclusion
Stress management in the workplace is very crucial. Stress often leads to low productivity, decreased efficiency and absenteeism. Long-term issues involve cardiovascular and immune diseases. Stress and burnouts are detrimental to an organization’s growth. If the employees aren’t happy, surely their work will be affected. Hence it is very important to manage the mental health of employees. Stress management in the workplace can be done in many ways as mentioned above. You can invest in employee wellness programs for the best results! Hiring professionals to do what they do best is always a great option. Check out the resiliency program.