EMPLOYEE STRESS MANAGEMENT

Stress management is not only about reducing

stress and anxiety in the workplace, but recognising stressful
situations before they occur. For employers, preventing stress
and treating work related stress and well being has many
benefits, not only can it reduce employee absenteeism it can help
those still working to manage their days in a stress free way. An
overall feeling of well being and the benefit of working in a
stress free environment can be achieved with increased stress
awareness and successfully managing stress in the workplace.

In this difficult economy, you may find it harder than ever to cope
with challenges on the job. Both the stress we take with us when
we go to work and the stress that awaits us on the job are on the
rise – and employers, managers, and workers all feel the added
pressure. While some stress is a normal part of life, excessive
stress interferes with your productivity and reduces your physical
and emotional health, so it’s important to find ways to keep it
under control. Fortunately, there is a lot that you can do to
manage and reduce stress at work.

The Top 10 Factors Leading to Employee Stress

A survey of 1,299 employees from 37 organizations

, identified ten factors as the most important contributors to employee stress. In

order of importance, these were:

• Employees not being free to talk with one another

• Personal conflicts on the job

• Employees not being given enough control over their work

• Inadequate staffing or budget

• Management and employees not talking openly

• Management perceived as being unsupportive

• Below-average sick and vacation benefits

• Reduction in employee benefits

• Having to deal with bureaucratic red tape

• Lack of recognition or reward for doing a good job

Stress management programming is an important component of any worksite

health promotion program. One innovative approach to the delivery of stress
management services entails the development of a stress management and
relaxation center. Analogous to a fitness center, the purpose of this facility is to
provide employees with an area, equipment, and qualified staff to encourage
learning about and practicing stress management and relaxation techniques.
Components of this center include a restricted environmental stimulation technique
or therapy (REST) flotation room; electromyograph (EMG), galvanic skin
response (GSR), and skin temperature biofeedback instruments; light/sound
brainwave entrainment machines; a massage table; computerized stress
assessments; a VCR and monitor; a stereo system; a reclining lounge chair; and an
extensive audio, video, and text lending library. Suggestions for staffing,
management, and marketing are provided

Strategies for Managing Employee Stress in the Workplace

Stress management at workplace is getting to be buzz word in
corporate circles. A survey indicated that workplace stress costs
the nation close to $300 billion each year in terms of health care,
work absenteeism and rehabilitation. The management can no
longer brush aside the ever increasing concern of stress
management in workplace because it has become clear that
mismanagement of this problem cuts deeply into profits and
productivity.
Managers, now more than ever, are trying to find new ways for
managing employee morale and stress. Stress management
programs at work place, conducted by external consultancies or
internal execs, are quite popular these days but the question
remains – are they really effective at curbing the problem?
The depressing state of economy and employee stress are
directly proportional in their relationship. How does a manager
motivate his employees to be productive and efficient, while
keeping their stress levels in control, especially when increased
monetary benefits and compensation is not a viable option?
This article serves to provide a few effective strategies and tips
for managers for managing stress at workplace
Developing empathy – Respect individual personality traits and
quirks. No single human is the same as the other; the richness
that comes up in any team is because of this difference, learn to
appreciate it. Work optimally with what you have instead of trying
to mould the employee according to your standards. You will find
introverts, extroverts, optimistic as well as pessimistic employees
in your team, don’t favor or alienate anyone for their personality
traits. Get to know each employee personally and interact with
them at a level which is comfortable for them.
Installing booths for anonymous complaints and
feedbacks – There is no better way to secure the trust of
employees, and reduce employee stress, than to allow them to
voice their feedback and complaints. Conduct a weekly meeting
to address their concerns. Don’t take any negative feedback
personally; try to address it in the best way possible. Sometimes
a word of encouragement or hope can assuage the deepest fears
in any employee and help stress management in workplace.
Providing healthy food in the canteens – Small things go a
long way in creating a happy and stress free work environment.
Most employees like to unwind and relax during the lunch breaks,
so the canteen should be a stress free place and food should be
healthy. A noisy crowded canteen which supplies limpid food can
offset the most optimistic of employees.
Monthly one to one interactions – Most managers seem to be
implementing this strategy but without any concrete results. Ask
yourself if you are really empathizing with the employee’s
concern or are you trying to defend your point of view? These
meetings should be forums for the employees to come out with
their concerns and suggestions for work place improvements.
They should feel confident that you are willing to give them a fair
and unprejudiced hearing. In itself this can be a very useful
strategy for managing stress in workplace.
Offering small incentives in terms of money and paid
leaves – Small incentives can go a long way in encouraging
better productive among the employees. A gift during their
birthdays, small bonuses for achieving deadlines and project
completion, occasional paid dinners or lunches at a good
restaurant and paid leaves, can make the employees feel
appreciated and encouraged while reducing work place stress.
Addressing performance fear among employees – Some top
performing employees tend to slack-off after a while because
they feel out of place among the rest of their colleagues. Top
performers need to be encouraged privately so that they don’t
feel discomforted among other colleagues. A low performing
employee should be dealt with even more carefully, the reasons
for their slack need to be addressed with alacrity – may be the
work they are doing is not challenging enough or may be there is
a lack of guidance on your part.
Helping employees manage time effectively – Clear guidance
and deadlines help the employees organize their work more
effectively. Blurred instructions can cause employee stress
through confusion or lack of direction. Emphasize the need for
punctuality and time management but also encourage them to
wind up their work by a definite closing time. Spending extra
hours in the office becomes a habit with certain employees and
this actually eats into their productivity in the long run.
Praising employees for performance – You can employ small
gestures of encourage and praise for the top performers to
acknowledge their efforts and motivate the others. Be sure to
acknowledge hard workers, smart workers and out-the-box
thinkers – as long as an employee is giving his or her best they
should be well appreciated. A useful tip for managers in
managing stress at workplace would be – don’t appear partial to
any particular employee.
Giving employees assurances that they will not be laid
off – The greatest source of employee stress is job insecurity so
you should try your best to assuage this fear. Sometimes hard
decisions need to be taken but the way you communicate these
decisions to the team would go a long way in assuring them and
keeping them less stressed.
Stress relieving toys and activities in the office – To add a
dash of sporty feeling to the office you can place a few stress toys
at employee cubes. Sand timers, pin arts, squeeze balls, jigsaw
puzzles and cubix can add some fun to bland cubes and act as
stress relievers for the employees.
Improving interiors – The paint and lighting used in the office
can also affect employee moods and stress. Go for light colors
and yellow lights to keep the mood tranquil. Bright white lights
are known to create more stress. Make sure the cubes are not too
cramped and some personal space is available to each employee.
Placing plants at the office cubicles – There is nothing like a
dash of nature to liven up sagging spirits. Thick green foliage and
flowering plants create a soothing environment in the office and
improve the employee feel good factor.
Ensuring a less noisy environment in the office – Silence is
the antidote for stress and noise the perpetrator. Talk to the
employees and ask them to keep the noise level as minimal as
possible, especially while they are on phones. Make the office
sound proof by lining the cubes and walls with sound absorbing
materials and fabric.
Ensuring clean washrooms and pantries – A leaking
bathroom faucet or urinal can offset the best of moods. Make
sure your employ enough cleaning staff to keep the washrooms
and pantries in a sanitary and spotless condition.
Delegating work efficiently: Allow for proper work delegation
to avoid over burdening of some employees. There are times
when certain employees are over worked while others have
plenty of leisure time – bad delegation is the culprit. Keep tab of
the work being done by the employees and ensure judicious work
circulation.
Not forcing employees to attend extra-curricular
activities – Respect individuality among your employees. Some
of your team members will prefer solitude to gatherings; restrain
yourself from forcing them to attend get-togethers and outings.
Allow plenty of space for the employees to express their
individuality instead of expecting them to always behave with a
group mind-set. Some managers encourage open dress codes for
this very reason.
Encouraging employees to add a personal touch to their
cubicles – Some employees feel more at home when they add a
few personal touches to their work stations. Posters, framed
photos, toys and other personal stationeries can add a touch of
individuality to their work environment and help them feel less
stressed.