For many Americans, work is a major source of stress. The American Institute of Stress noted that job stress could cost companies around $300 billion annually. This is due to various factors such as absenteeism, accidents, and diminished productivity. In addition to these, other factors, such as workers’ compensation and legal fees, can also affect an organization’s financial situation.
Although these factors can affect an employee’s stress level, managers can still help prevent it from happening in the first place. Managers can take a dozen steps to help their employees reduce their stress.
Try Different Kinds of Meeting
One of the most effective ways to reduce employee stress is by implementing walking meetings designed to help workers get active and recharge. Although these meetings can help eliminate some stress, they should also be conducted productively.
Emphasize Work/Life Balance
To promote a healthy work-life balance, managers must ensure that their employees can take advantage of their time off. This can be done by establishing policies that allow for flexible work arrangements and shutting down early in the holiday season to ensure that family time is valued. Ensure employees are on board with the requirements regarding their roles by making them clear during the hiring process.
Keep Track of Workloads
Managers must ensure that workers aren’t expected to carry excessive workloads and should refrain from creating schedules that are too demanding. High turnover within a department can indicate that there is a problem with scheduling or workload.
Encourage Breaks
A survey conducted in 2017 revealed that over half of American workers don’t use all of their vacation time. The main reasons why this issue is typically tied to work responsibilities are the fear that they’ll be considered for replacement, as well as the lack of coverage.
To ensure that their employees’ vacation time is not going unused, make sure that you have a report that shows the amount of time that they have available. Also, encourage them to take advantage of their time off by making it clear that they are valued.
Try Work From Home
Although working from home isn’t a new concept, managers can help eliminate the stigma surrounding it by making it a practice. Working from home can also help employees avoid the stress of having to manage their time while dealing with various medical appointments and other related matters.
Create Opportunities
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) reported that employees cited a lack of advancement and growth opportunities as one of the top stressors at work. With the rise of new technologies, helping employees develop new skills can help them adapt to the changes in the market.
Rather than treating stressful situations as a threat, it can be beneficial for employees to see them as a challenge. By setting clear goals with their staff members, managers can help improve their employee engagement.
Communicate
Lack of communication and information can lead to employee stress. To avoid this, it’s important that managers regularly provide their staff members with open communication. They should also make sure that they are regularly updated on their performance.
Encourage Feedback
If employees are willing to share their ideas and suggestions, managers should consider them as valuable contributions to the company’s success. They should also regularly seek feedback on ways to improve team performance and productivity.