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04.13.2010

 

5 Ways to Manage Workplace Stress in the New Era

By Kim Sarena Saunders

 

2010 has brought with it many challenges.  The current state of the economy has many people on edge.  Add that to the fears most harbor about being laid off, upsetting the fragile balance of the family structure, or catching the latest communicable disease, and we can conclude that our lives are basically seethed in crises 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. 

It’s hard not to become overwhelmed by the unrelenting internal and external stressors of life.  It’s human nature.  The days of employees “leaving their problems at home” and “checking their issues at the door” have become obsolete as the effects of surmounting stress have begun, and most certainly will continue to invade every aspect of their lives…until it finally reaches the organization’s bottom line.

Organizations are now “putting their own spin” on how they handle employees’ stress.  They have to.  We are living in new times, where most people stress about the fact that they are stressed.  The old adage of minimizing workplace stress is still essential to the success of an organization, but it only provides a partial fix to a much larger problem.  Employers have gotten hip to fact that all areas in which employees feel stressed, both on and off the job, need to be addressed.

Here are five effective ways to help manage workplace stress:

1. Involve employees in committees and process improvement teams.  Engaging them in decision-making processes can increase job autonomy, employee performance and overall job satisfaction.

2. Implement programs/policies such as flexible work arrangements, childcare assistance and personal financial training.  Efforts to help improve the quality of both work and home life can reduce employee absences, raise employee morale, and increase employees’ commitment to the organization.    

3. Provide job training opportunities, tuition reimbursement, mentorship, and leadership development programs.  The opportunity to gain new skills and expand employees’ knowledge base, job skills and personal educational goals can increase self-esteem, job performance and productivity.

4. Assist employees in improving their physical and mental health.  Provide health screenings, healthy lifestyle training (such as stress management, weight loss, and smoking cessation programs) and access to fitness/recreation facilities.   Results can be seen in reduced stress, reduced unplanned absences, increased productivity, and lower healthcare costs.

5. Acknowledge the efforts of employees.  By doing so, you are making them feel valued and appreciated.  Different types of recognition include monetary compensation, employee awards/recognition ceremonies, performance-based bonuses, and pay increases.  Employers can find increased employee motivation and morale in employees.

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