How can these three tips improve your employees' stress?

How to manage employees’ stress

Stress in a work environment is a given. But luckily there are a number of approaches leaders can take to manage it more effectively.

But what about your employees? How can you best manage their stress?

64 per cent of workers have reported having high stress levels.

Seeking out leadership or management training courses is one way to learn how to manage your employees stress.

Stress in the workplace

According to a 2014 ComPsych report, 64 per cent of workers have reported having high stress levels. The StressPulse report had two other key findings:

  • 29 per cent of employees missed 3 to 6 days per year due to stress;
  • 16 per cent missed more than 6 days per year due to stress.

Chairman and CEO of ComPsych Dr Richard Chaifetz said that “high levels of stress have a deleterious effect on work productivity, as well as physical health”.

Fortunately, there are ways for business managers and leaders to address the stress levels of employees.

According to the American Psychological Association, there is a range of ways to reduce stress in the workplace.

1. Generate work/life boundaries

In today’s technologically dependent world, it’s easy to expect your employees to embody a constant state of responsiveness. But, this is an unhealthy way of working.

Instead, set up boundaries for your employees. For example, make sure no emails are sent or phone calls made outside of work hours.

2. Healthy stress responses

An excellent way of helping your staff deal with stress is by encouraging them to respond to it in a healthy way.

Is stress getting the better of your employees?Is stress getting the better of your employees?

For many of us, we respond to stress by indulging in fast food, alcohol or cigarettes, but these choices tend to make the situation worse. Exercising is a great way to break stress. Yoga has been a popular choice for many companies.

To encourage these healthy responses, you will also need to get to know your employees and find out what activities bring them pleasure. Set up a survey or a simple jar that they can put notes in. This will allow you to discover their passions without affecting your workload.

3. Relaxing takes practice

Most people think relaxing is the act of doing nothing, but, in fact, it is the opposite. Relaxation is about finding spaces, activities or techniques that help reduce anxiety and release tension.

On the job, there is a range of techniques that can help, for instance, the National Health service (NHS) promotes relaxed breathing. Sit in your chair, place your arms on the chair arms, and concentrate on breathing in and out, setting up a rhythmic pattern.

Although the cause of the anxiety won’t disappear, you may be in a better state to deal with it.

Like all things, helping your employees deal with stress takes practice and the right management approach. To find out more, contact an experienced provider of quality management courses.


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