How to stop stress from wreaking havoc in your workplace - bizjournals:

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While fears of layoffs, job losses, hiring freezes, pay and benefit cuts and reduced hourzs have a negative effecton employees, the compant as a whole suffers as a result. Accordiny to experts at the , stress costzs businesses in the UnitedStates $300 billion annually. This averagews out to approximately $7,50p per employee for expenditures such as hiring temps or payinf overtime tocover absenteeism, increased medical costds and incurred expenses from turnover. Stresse causes physical, mental and emotional wear and tear on the It manifests in a varietyof symptoms, such as anxiety, irritability, withdrawal or depression.
Studiesd have shown that stress contributes to ailmentws suchas migraines, insomnia, hear disease, increased drug and alcohol use, elevatef anger, change in eating habits and unsatisfactorhy work performance. Regardless of the form it stress results inreduced absenteeism, burnout and increased medical According to the stress institute, 60 to 80 percent of workplacew accidents are stress related. Stress is a fact of but it does not have to be a way of As Selyedefined it, stress is often the resulty of perceived stressors. Likewise, a study by the reportsx that 40 percent of workerws viewed their job ashighly stressful.
Therefore, an individual’w outlook can determine the levek of stress he orshe experiences. Situations that are stressful for such astight deadlines, may give certaijn people a rush, whereas other s face it as a tumultuous situation. What can companies do to help employeesz dealwith stress? Employerxs who offer an effective employee assistance program have an excellent resourc for employees and families. An EAP provides employees with a confidentiapl access to mental health professionalx who can help them better dealwith Additionally, managers and supervisors are the frontlins defense against stress.
There are several effective techniques that managerws and supervisors can utilize to help their employeee dealwith stress. Show appreciation. Taking the time to praise positive work performance illustrates to employees that their effortware recognized, and, in turn, they feel that theier work is valuable. Relaying verbalo praise, sending a thank you note and giving a positivse annual work appraisal are some ways that managers can expresstheir gratitude. Showing appreciation can have a positive effecft onyour company’s performance as well by motivating employees to do their best. Treat employees fairly.
Whilwe each employee is unique and hasdifferenyt needs, all employees want to be treated While some employees like to be praised, others are fine withour it. Managers should take the time to understancd what makes eachemployee tick. Doing so requirezs managers to get acquainted withtheir employees, and in turn they are bettere in tune to theire state of mind and recognize when they are feeling If managers know their employees, then they will recognize that certain employees are feeling stresser and will take the appropriate steps to help them get more of theidr needs met. Encourage employees to take bettet careof themselves.
Employees that maintain a healthy lifestyl are better able tohandlr stress. In doing so, they will feel better physicallh and are better able to cope with stresas and evenreduce it. As a they are also able to maintain satisfactoryperformance Similarly, employees who build solid support systems – family, church – have a personal outlet to express theie fears and frustrations and help find relief. communicate, communicate. Much of the stres related to the econom is rootedin uncertainty.
Transparency can help alleviate that Companies that establish open lines of communicatio with their work forcer build a greater level of trust with theire employees and allow them to betterr prepare for any changes thatmay come. Providee training and resources. People are most often stressecd when they feel a situation is out of their By encouraging employees to direct theid activities in a positived direction and learn to let go of the thingws out oftheir control, they are oftemn able to achieve a sense of Allowing employees to improve their job skills by taking a class and learning a new skilll during difficult financial times improves their value and self-esteem as employees and help buildd toward their career goals.
Changee is happening all around us, not just in the Some people cope with change bettertthan others. Others try to avoie it becausethey don’t have the skillss to navigate through it and are content to stay in theirr comfort zone. This grou will have less and less control over the outcome of changee and are more likely tofeel