Are Your Employees Stressed? How to Help Them

All jobs create a certain amount of stress. But when that stress becomes overwhelming and unending it can have a powerfully negative impact on emotional and physical health, motivation, engagement, and commitment. Those factors contribute directly to burnout and turnover, which often throw companies into turmoil. If stress levels are dangerously high in your office, use these tips to help your employees find some relief:

  • Communicate – Professional uncertainty is a major creator of stress. Make sure that the lines of communication are kept open and that you report any kind of significant news, whether good or bad, as quickly and completely as you can.
  • Empower – Employees who feel like just a cog in the machine rather than a valued and acknowledged contributor often experience more stress. As much as possible, involve everyone in decision making and let individuals have more control over the way they approach work.
  • Permit – When the balance between work and life is off, it’s usually work that suffers. Help your employees restore the balance by permitting them to work from home, schedule flex time, and deal with personal issues even when they arise on work time.
  • Praise – No one likes to toil away in obscurity. When someone does achieve something significant, make sure to single them out for praise and thank them for their contribution to the company.
  • Reflect – When managers/executives are perceived as hypocrites, phonies, or insensitive overlords they make everyone beneath them feel worse about their job. Lead by example, and always reflect the image of the ideal employee.
  • Police – Office politics are another major source of stress. Make it known that there will be zero tolerance for workplace harassment or discrimination and follow through on that tough stance.
  • Relax – Everyone needs a break from time to time. Make sure that your office isn’t only about work, and create fun opportunities for employees to socialize, unwind, and think about something besides work even if that happens between the hours of 9 and 5.
  • Develop – People who feel trapped in one place inevitably experience more stress. Create opportunities for professional development to help everyone feel like they are moving forward.
  • Educate – Decades of research have identified effective stress management strategies. Educate your employees about these strategies, and provide any additional resources that may be necessary.
  • Pace – An office that is fast paced and demands a high volume of work is obviously more stressful to work in. You may not be able to scale things back completely, but try to recognize high stress periods and limit their frequency and duration.

Reducing turnover isn’t the only reason to reduce stress. You will also see gains in efficiency, productivity, and innovation. Respond to the real human needs of your employees and you will get a lot back in return. Learn more about optimizing your workforce by contacting Morris Bixby.

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