Stress is a word that we hear far too often in our work places. What is stress? It’s the body’s response to physical and mental demands. When those demands start to overwhelm our body, adverse effects can include headache, upset stomach, problems sleeping, difficulty in concentrating and mood swings. Long term effects can include developing heart disease, diabetes, stomach & bowel problems, depression and anxiety as well as physical ailments such as back, shoulder and neck tightness. While we are all capable of handling a certain amount of stress, when we feel we no longer have control, our heart rate can increase, our blood pressure can rise and our immune system can slow down which allows illness to take over.
What causes stress at work? There can be many variables that affect job stress including your physical environment (poor lighting, too hot or too cold, and poor workstation design), job design (too much work, not enough work, shift work, and unclear job demands) and social/economic factors (job security, harassment, and new technology). While a certain amount of stress can be a good thing, being overwhelmed is not. Stress can affect your ability to work, concentrate and cope with life.
So, as an employer, what can you do to help? Make sure job requirements are clear, allow employees to have a say in how they do their jobs (don’t micro-manage), and offer clear feedback and communication to all staff.
If stress becomes a problem, look at offering an EAP service (Employee Assistance Plan), develop ways to resolve conflict at work, and try to be flexible with work schedules (flex time and telecommuting are just 2 options to deal with this). Promoting regular exercise, healthy diet choices, and relaxation options are a few other ways to help employees manage their stress levels.
Help your employees now before workplace stress becomes a major (and expensive) problem for you!