How to Identify and Reduce Workplace Stress

Managing employee stress plays a crucial role in promoting a healthy work environment. When employees feel stressed, employers are often confronted with a variety of problems, from decreased productivity to losing valued workers after making a significant investment in their hires and training. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 25 percent of American workers identify their jobs as the number one stress factor in their lives. Use the following tips to help identify and reduce workplace stress, creating a healthy work environment where your staff members can thrive.

Identifying Employee Stress 

Stress affects everyone in different ways, but below are several early indications that your employees are likely feeling strained:

• Difficulty concentrating
• Headaches
• Increased absenteeism
• Low morale
• Headaches
• Sleep disturbances
• Upset stomach
• Noticeable mood changes
• Decreased productivity
• Job dissatisfaction

Just as symptoms of stress can differ from one person to the next, the factors that can affect stress vary from one employee to another, but some of the most common ones include: working conditions, work roles, interpersonal relationships, management style, career concerns, and environmental conditions. If you determine that your employees are feeling stressed, use the following tips to try to reduce workplace stress and promote a healthy company culture:

• Develop and implement an employee recognition program that rewards workers for good performance.
• Lead by example. Employees may take cues from management on how to react to stress, so it’s important to ensure that all managers and supervisors are responding to stressful situations appropriately.
• Provide career development opportunities.
• Offer stress management training and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Encourage a healthy lifestyle among your employees by providing health insurance that provides gym membership discounts or offering other wellness initiatives, for instance.
• Take a look around the office for ways to improve working conditions. Survey or talk to your employees to get a better idea of which areas of your work environment could be improved.

It’s important to remember that every employee reacts to stress differently, and as a result, you should use a personalized approach to handle each individual’s stress-related concerns. Taking the time upfront to develop a plan to help reduce workplace stress will benefit your organization over the long-term, helping you boost morale, increase job satisfaction, and retain valued employees.

At Hunkins & Eaton Insurance Agency, the wellbeing of you and your employees is important to us. For additional stress management tips and other valuable resources, please read our previous blog posts, and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Google+.