The success of your business rests on the daily performance of your employees. The better they prepare physically and mentally, the more your business should benefit. Ideally, everyone should feel energized to meet the challenges of the day. Previous generations of employers didn't have the foresight of today's entrepreneurs. They paid far less attention to the needs of their workforce. Employee resentment and exclusion often hindered business, preventing it from reaching its true potential.
The Harvard Gazette found up to 36% of employees regularly suffer from work-related stress. The days they don't show up collectively cost businesses across the United States an astonishing $30 billion every year. A small amount of stress can provide the impetus to achieve, but when it escalates, it's detrimental. The solution is to help employees combat stress.
1. Establish Effective Communication
According to a State of the Global Workplace report by Gallup, 57% of the US workforce suffers acute stress. It can often be through a difficult relationship with their managers, causing high blood pressure, anxiety and even cardiac arrest. Lack of sleep through stress leaves people vulnerable to mistakes and poor performance. Ensure you're approachable and willing to discuss issues with your employees.
2. Mental Health is Important
A survey by The Conference Board discovered 60% of employees experience mental stress. However, only around one-third of businesses provide any schemes for their workers' mental and physical health. According to a Monster.com survey, up to 61% of employees claim their state of health is impaired by the workplace. Many are eager to abandon their current jobs in return for improved healthcare conditions. Healthcare investment looks after your workforce and improves productivity.
3. Introduce Scheduled Breaks
Some jobs such as software development provide endless work. Employees might contribute as much as 12-14 hours each day, even on weekends. Punishing schedules induce exhaustion, causing employees to become confused and unable to function. You must enforce regular breaks and insist on days off for recreation, enabling your employees to relax and re-energize.
4. Practice Mindfulness
According to research from a 2018 study by the University of California, there's an increase in concentration when employees practice meditation. The easiest technique is mindfulness. It includes simple breathing techniques and concentrating on surroundings to reduce intrusive stress. There are many free apps where mindfulness can be learned in minutes such as Headspace and Calm.
5. Team Days Out
HR departments constantly emphasize team building. It helps your workforce become creative and efficient. Organize a trip for your entire workforce to an ornamental garden, fairground or even have a trip to the coast. Tough pursuits such as canyoning might not appeal to everyone. The excursion should help you and your employees get to know each other.
6. Paying for Leave
According to NationalPartnership.org, only 19% of businesses offer employees paid leave. Even a few days of relaxation can make a difference to morale. A study by the Allianz Global Assistance revealed 55% of workers in the US never take their entire vacations, a fact that employers find advantageous. Resist the offers of continual work and your employees should return stress-free.
7. Flexibility and Schedules
Everyone has a life outside of work. It can include stressful parental responsibilities or look after seniors. Being approachable and allowing employees to confide in you can help stress levels for all concerned. Organize flexible remote working where possible and allow workers to start late, compensating for lost time later on.
8. Provide Incentives
Your employees need goals as much as you. Without personal incentives, there can be a build-up of stress. It quickly lowers morale and productivity. Ensure you have a policy of assessing everyone's role at least once a year. Ask directly if they'd like to learn about other aspects of the business. Monitor them and identify workers who show promise.
9. Exercise Beats Stress
A Gallup survey by Tom Rath discovered that only 11% of employees found enough energy to get through their day. Exercise effectively increases energy, reduces stress and improves morale. Install an inexpensive gym where employees can work out. Alternatively you could set up a basketball hoop, ping pong table or an improvised badminton court.
10. Reduce Impossible Workloads
Piling too much work on anyone can also increase stress. The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) found 48% of US employees feel exhausted by the close of each day. Streamline work schedules so everyone can pace themselves more effectively. For urgent assignments, keep your team versatile so that more people can help out in an emergency.
Final Thoughts
Every business is at risk of reduced productivity and performance if the workforce suffers extreme stress. Identifying any practices such as impossible schedules can help you determine what action you should take. Easy, inexpensive solutions involve regular breaks, discovering employee grievances or promoting meditation.
Assess whether your business compares favorably with your rivals in terms of healthcare and flexible working. If they provide better facilities, you could lose some of your employees whenever vacancies arise.
Emphasizing team spirit and an understanding attitude towards life's many crises can help your employees feel less stressed. Frustration at what appears to be a fruitless career can easily be alleviated by giving employees the chance to learn new skills.
In the long run, these stress relivers will be the difference between an employee being more productive, appreciating the company more and minimize the risk of them leaving.
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- 10 Great Ways to Help Employees to Deal with Stress - February 23, 2022
