The workplace can be quite stressful for Americans with 61 percent of the population citing this as one of their top sources of stress. If left unchecked, it can take a serious toll on both your employees and your company. In this post, we’ll talk about the importance of identifying stress, common warning signs to watch out for and how to address them.
Catching It Before It’s Too Late
The Better Health Channel discusses some of the effects that stress can have on your employees. Some physical symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Muscular tension
- Headaches
- Heart palpitations
- Trouble sleeping
- Gastrointestinal issues
In terms of psychological symptoms, these include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Pessimism
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Reduced cognitive functioning (e.g., poor decision-making and trouble concentrating)
As you can see, these are some very serious issues. If they go on long term, they can greatly jeopardize the health and well-being of your staff.
Common Symptoms of Stress
When it comes to symptoms, the Better Health Channel identifies the following as being most common:
- Increased absenteeism
- Reduced performance
- Mood swings and irritability
- Aggression
- Difficulty with interpersonal relationships
- Lower tolerance
- Disinterest
Fixing the Problem
Now that we know how to spot the signs of stress, it’s critical you understand some techniques for reducing it. For starters, you should strive to help employees achieve a healthy work-life balance so they have time to fully recharge their batteries. Try to prevent overscheduling, and consider partnering with a staffing agency if you’re consistently low on manpower.
Another effective strategy is to promote positive thinking. As SHRM points out, “Continual negative thoughts can increase stress, while maintaining a positive attitude can cut stress.” So if you’re dealing with a habitual pessimist, try to get them to adjust their mindset.
Here are some other ideas:
- Allow employees to work remotely part of the time if possible
- Allow flexible scheduling
- Create a formal break area where employees can relax and unwind
- Make sure employees actually take their meal break rather than having a “desk lunch”
- Encourage exercise and physical activity
Workplace stress is an epidemic and affects a large percentage of workers. By knowing how to recognize this problem and making a few key changes, you should be able to greatly reduce stress for your employees and create a better working environment.
Does recruiting have you feeling overwhelmed? Get in touch with Encadria Staffing Solutions to see how we can help.