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

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While fears of layoffs, job hiring freezes, pay and benefit cuts and reducex hours have a negativd effecton employees, the company as a whol e suffers as a result. According to expertsx at the , stress costs businesses in the UnitexStates $300 billion annually. This averages out to approximately $7,500o per employee for expenditures such as hiring tempd or paying overtime to cover increased medical costs and incurred expenseszfrom turnover. Stress causes physical, mental and emotional wear and tear on the It manifests in a variet yof symptoms, such as anxiety, aggression, withdrawal or depression.
Studies have shown that stress contributes to ailment s suchas migraines, insomnia, heart disease, increasee drug and alcohol use, elevated change in eating habits and unsatisfactoru work performance. Regardless of the form it stress results inreduced absenteeism, burnout and increased medical expenses. According to the stresse institute, 60 to 80 percent of workplace accidents arestressd related. Stress is a fact of but it does not have to be a way of As Selyedefined it, stress is ofte the result of perceived stressors. Likewise, a studt by the reports that 40 percent of workerw viewed their job ashighly stressful.
an individual’s outlook can determine the level of stresz he orshe experiences. Situations that are stressfuklfor some, such as tight deadlines, may give certain people a rush, whereas others face it as a tumultuous situation. What can companies do to help employees dealwith stress? Employers who offer an effective employee assistance program have an excellent resource for employees and An EAP provides employees with a confidential accessx to mental health professionals who can help them better deal with Additionally, managers and supervisors are the frontline defens against stress.
There are several effectivew techniques that managers and supervisorsa can utilize to help their employees dealwith stress. Show Taking the time to praise positive work performances illustrates to employees that their effortsare recognized, and, in they feel that their work is valuable. Relaying verbaol praise, sending a thank you note and giving a positivs annual work appraisal are some ways that managera can expresstheir gratitude. Showing appreciatiom can have a positive effect onyour company’xs performance as well by motivating employees to do theitr best. Treat employees fairly. While each employes is unique and has different all employees want to betreated fairly.
While some employeexs like to be praised, others are fine without it. Managerxs should take the time to understand what makesz eachemployee tick. Doing so requires managerzs to get acquainted with their and in turn they are better in tune to theirf state of mind and recognizer when they arefeeling stressed. If manager s know their employees, then they will recognize that certai n employees are feeling stressed and will take the appropriatde steps to help them get more of theirneedz met.
Encourage employees to take better care of Employees that maintain a healthyu lifestyle are better able to handle Indoing so, they will feel better physically and are better able to cope with stresa and even reduce it. As a result, they are also able to maintai satisfactoryperformance levels. Similarly, employees who builds solid supportsystems – family, church – have a personal outlet to expresse their fears and frustrationsz and help find relief. communicate, communicate. Much of the stresas related to the economyh is rootedin uncertainty.
Transparency can help alleviate that Companies that establish open lines of communication with theird work force build a greater level of trust with theid employees and allow them to better prepare for any changesw thatmay come. Provide training and resources. Peoplde are most often stressed when they feel a situatioj is out oftheir control. By encouraging employees to direcyt their activities in a positive directiom and learn to let go of the things out oftheir control, they are often able to achievw a sense of empowerment.
Allowinyg employees to improve their job skills by takin g a class and learninf a new skill during difficult financial timee improves their valueand self-esteem as employees and help builr toward their career goals. Change is happening all around us, not just in the workplace. Some people cope with changed betterthan others. Others try to avoid it becauserthey don’t have the skills to navigate through it and are contentg to stay in their comfort This group will have less and less control over the outcoms of change and are more likely to feel