It’s no secret that working in a stressful environment for a long time is not good for employees' work and health. As a manager, there are a few steps you can take to reduce the stress your employees face and help them feel supported and positive, even if their to-do lists are long.
How Many of Our Employees are Stressed?
According to an American Psychological Association (APA) Work and Well-Being Survey, one-third of employees surveyed reported experiencing chronic stress at work. A survey by Paychex found that 70% of Americans rate job stress as three-fifths or more, and 60% of workers report experiencing job stress at least three days a week.
#1 Recognize the Presence of Stress
While it seems obvious, simply acknowledging workplace stress can go a long way in making your employees feel like they are being seen and heard. Simply acknowledging stress in the workplace and initiating dialogue reduces stress and lowers employee turnover.
#2 Let Employees Work from Home (even if it’s just for a couple days)
Recent research shows that there is a high percentage of Americans who experience workplace stress, and that percentage is only increasing over time. A survey conducted by Wrike found that respondents with moderate to high workplace stress are 19% more likely to say that flexible hours or working from home will help reduce stress. Constant stress in the workplace can cause headaches, sleep disturbances, stomach pains, difficulty concentrating, short temper, and more. Employees who work in a comfortable environment have more control over the situation, which reduces work-related stress.
#3 Inform Employees About the Negative Side Effects of Stress
While the first line of defense against work-related stress should be changing the work environment, educating employees about stress symptoms, causes, and treatments can also be of great benefit. No matter what your job application is, there are things you can do to protect yourself from the ill effects of stress, increase job satisfaction, and improve your well-being both inside and outside of work.
Chronic work-related stress can lead to insomnia, high blood pressure, anxiety, and a weakened immune system. If your employees experience severe effects of stress, it will likely also affect their mental and physical health. Employees suffering from work-related stress can lead to reduced productivity, lost workdays, and increased employee turnover. Both managers and employees should be aware of the serious consequences of stress and take steps to reduce stress in the workplace, thus contributing to the well-being of employees and the company itself.
#4 Promote a Healthy Work-Life Balance
This can reduce stress and anxiety in the workplace and improve quality of life. Not only will this help lessen stress in the workplace, but it will also help your employees build personal connections and work better as a team.
#5 Implement an Effective Work Management Platform
Management platforms give you easy access to everything your employees need to simplify communication, provide visibility into workloads, and reduce workplace stress by ensuring all the information you need is in one place.
#6 Establish a Judgement-Free Support System
Expanding your social connections at work and having a strong network of supportive friends and family is extremely important for managing stress in all areas of your life. Support from family and friends, even if it's just for venting or just talking, can go a long way towards coping with stress. Support among staff is also an important means of resisting employee stress.
#7 Distribute the Workload Among Your Employees
It's in the best interest of a sensible boss to support you and find ways to help you deal with workplace stress. This could mean taking things off your plate or helping you deal with a hostile coworker. Assign employees to perform high-stress tasks that vary based on stress levels so they can manage their workload by rotating tasks. Employees will also develop a sense of control over their job responsibilities.
#8 Lead by Example
In addition to reporting workplace stress, be sure to acknowledge and express your sincere gratitude and appreciation for your employees' ongoing efforts. If you can stay calm in stressful situations, your employees will be more likely to follow suit. Feelings will help reduce stress levels for employees and you, even if you can't change it. Recognizing that stress at work is a common problem and finding ways to relieve stress it is a huge step in the right direction.
#9 Find the Source
Once you understand the source of the stress, act as an observer or coach to help your colleagues understand the cause of the stress. You can then come up with practical ways to deal with it. Often, the best way to deal with stress is to find a way to change the environment that's causing it. A more realistic approach is to employ effective coping strategies to reduce stress at the current job.
#10 Offer an Incentive that’s Practical and Needed
If gas prices are stressing out your employees, offer them gas gift cards for their commute or let them work from home once a week. If they are stressed that they can’t provide food for their family, give them a grocery gift card. These little gestures will be the memorable moments they take with them even beyond their current career. At RPG Card Services, we work with you to personalize gift cards and fulfill your bulk fulfillment. View our full list of preferred brands and contact us on our website.
Stress at work is inevitable, even if you love what you do, but there are steps you can take to minimize work stress. These tips, whether in or out of the office, on a team or individually, can help employees prepare for the stress that comes with it.
