 |
The latest StressPulse report by ComPsych, a provider of employee assistance programs, found that 64 percent of employees report high levels of stress. Noted ComPsych CEO Richard A. Chaifetz, Psy.D, “Sustained, high levels of stress have a deleterious effect on work product as well as physical health.” He said proactively addressing the issue is part of an overall strategy for wellbeing.
Stress is closely tied to productivity and absenteeism. The stress survey found that 29 percent of employees miss 3-to-6 days per year due to stress, and 16 percent miss more than 6 days. Job stress can contribute to maladies, including anxiety, insomnia, high blood pressure, weakened immune system, depression, obesity, and heart disease.
What is the most effective and cost-efficient way to provide safety training for your workforce? Try a demo of BLR’s remarkable TrainingToday® at no cost or obligation.
What causes work stress, and how can you manage it?
Stress is not reserved for white-collar executives. All types of employees experience the problem. Take a look at these top reasons for stress, according to the American Psychological Association:
- Low salaries,
- Excessive workloads,
- Few opportunities for growth or advancement,
- Work that is not engaging or challenging,
- Lack of social support,
- Not having enough control over job-related decisions, and
- Conflicting demands or unclear performance expectations.
Try a demo of BLR’s remarkable award-winning TrainingToday® at no cost or obligation. This includes the Workplace Safety Library. Get the details.
Help your employees beat stress this holiday season
Check out these stress-busters, including several recommenced by the human resources company Insperity:
- Do lunchtime yoga. Find a yoga class to help stave off stress and improve productivity. Meditation and breathing exercises can also help.
- Rub it in. Some companies bring in a massage therapist who offers chairside massage.
- Get moving. It’s well known that exercise is a good stress reducer. Get moving through competitions and fun activities that burn calories.
- Drink up. Replace your soda and coffee with water. Consider a campaign to collect money not spent on other beverages and donate it to charity.
- Encourage good ideas. Talk with your supervisors about stress levels and ways to reduce them. Working together can have a positive effect.
- Establish digital boundaries. It’s easy to get caught up in nonstop e-mail and texts. Talk with your supervisor about expectations and request that you not be obligated to respond to e-mail during family time, for example, or answer the phone during dinner.
Give your employees the gift of this brief wellness training on managing stress, and you may all have a happier holiday season!