Welcome to Workplace Watch! Workplace Watch is a series of business articles written to provide information on current topics affecting your business. This edition focuses on stress in the workplace. We will uncover causes of stress at work, signs of stressed employees and tips on how to manage stress in daily work lives.

Stress.  We all have it.  We all experience it.  Most of us have trouble managing it, especially when it involves work.  Stress affects us all differently; it can reduce our productivity, increase pressure and even cause illness in some workers.  The reason for this is that stress affects the brain, specifically our memory, concentration, energy level and the ability to learn.  All are needed on a daily basis to do our jobs.  The key to dealing with stress is not to eliminate it altogether – that is simply not a realistic solution – but you can manage it successfully when both the employer and the employee tackle the issue of stress together.  Employers who put forth an effort to provide a less stressful work environment for their employees will receive huge benefits in return, including improved employee mental acuity, production, performance and satisfaction.

Why does stress occur?
Stress occurs often and in many situations.  Some of the causes of workplace stress can include:

• Lack of effective communication
• Lack of job security
• Long working hours
• Excessive time away from home and family
• Little recognition for work
• Office politics and conflict among staff
• Conflict
• Feelings of powerlessness and non-involvement
• Unreasonable performance demands

Orienting yourself with some of the causes of stress can help you and your employees better understand factors that affect your stress level.  As mentioned, the key to managing stress is both employer and employee involvement.  The first step is simply trying to recognize and eliminate the above situations for employees.

What are key signs that someone is stressed?
Employers should be familiar with the signs of stress.  Some of these are not exclusively due to stress, nor are they absolute proof of it, but they are indicators to prompt investigation as to whether or not stress is a major factor in your employees’ workplace lives.  The ten key stress indicators are:

• Sleep difficulties
• Loss of appetite
• Poor concentration or poor memory retention
• Performance dip
• Uncharacteristic errors or missed deadlines
• Anger or tantrums
• Violent or anti-social behavior
• Emotional outbursts
• Alcohol or drug abuse
• Nervous habits

The Employer’s Role
What can you, as the employer, do to help your employees deal with stress?  There is no single remedy that applies, and most solutions involve a combination of remedies. Here are some simple pointers for reducing stress for your employees:

• Regularly and clearly communicate to your employees.
• Show employees they matter in the organization.
• Provide clear instructions so employees know what is expected of them.
• Recognize employee contributions to the organization.
• Identify what employees are doing right and give them credit.
• Shut down office politics by refusing to allow advantage to those who participate.
• Be candid with employees about their performance, let them know when they need to improve.
• Consider giving time off to people who work long hours to help them cope with family stresses.
• Provide an Employer Assistance Program (EAP) that can help employees cope with many issues, workplace and personal.
• Provide an on-site exercise facility.

The Employee’s Role
What can your employees do to deal with stress?  You may be able to help your employees deal more effectively with stress by promoting the following: 

• Talking with others
• Working to understand the type(s) of stressors affecting them
• Improving their diets
• Reducing tobacco and alcohol intake
• Exercising on a regular basis
• Increasing self-awareness of personal moods and feelings
• Using relaxation methods like deep breaths, a quick walk, meditation, yoga, etc.
• Monitoring their responses to others when put into a stressful situation.

Helping employees to prioritize their workloads can have its benefits for stress reduction.  Work with your employees to figure out what is urgent and what can wait can reduce their level of stress.

One of the most effective ways to reduce stress for employees and management alike is to create and maintain a positive working environment.  Accepting that mistakes happen, working collectively to improve operating results, celebrating success, and bringing laughter and fun to the workplace can pay dividends in productivity and employee satisfaction.

Consider a joke of the day (use your judgment and keep it in good taste); celebrating teammates’ birthdays, anniversaries or other significant events are all ways to help manage stress levels.  Laughter is virtually guaranteed to produce immediate improvements.

Stress within the workplace can have many negative implications for businesses.  By learning how to successfully manage, understand and identify stress in your workplace and for your employees, you will notice improved productivity and profitability.  The investment your company makes in stress reduction will be justified by the positive results your business will enjoy.