Managing Work Stress to Increase Employee Engagement and Productivity
Introduction
Workplace stress is a worldwide issue that impacts productivity in organizations as well as the health and well-being of employees. Stress at work occurs when a person's capacity and ability to handle demands of various kinds and combinations exceeds those responsibilities.
Work-related stress is described as the response people may have when presented with work demands and pressures that are not matched to their knowledge and abilities, which, in turn, challenge their ability to cope (World Health Organization, 2019).
12.5 million working days were lost in the UK last year due to workplace stress, depression or anxiety, and in the states, 40% of workers reported their job was very or extremely stressful. (Vickers, 2018)
What is workplace stress?
Job stress can be defined as the harmful physical and emotional responses that occur when the requirements of the job do not match the capabilities, resources, or needs of the worker. Job stress can lead to poor health and even injury. (NIOSH, 2014)
Why is this important for employers?
So, how is this relevant to office life? The average person will spend 90,000 hours of their life at work, so it’s hugely important for employees to feel supported in the workplace. Happy, motivated employees work harder for an organization so creating a safe place for them is integral. (Vickers, 2018)
Causes of work-related stress
Some of the factors that commonly cause work-related stress include:
• Long hours
• Heavy workload
• Changes within the organization
• Tight deadlines
• Changes to duties
• Job insecurity
• Lack of autonomy
• Boring work
• Insufficient skills for the job
• Over-supervision
• Inadequate working environment
• Lack of proper resources
• Lack of equipment
• Few promotional opportunities
• Harassment
• Discrimination
• Poor relationships with colleagues or bosses
(Better Health, 2012)
Physical and psychological effects of workplace stress
1. Reduces our sense of purpose at work and job happiness
2. raises our risk of developing cardiovascular diseases
3. Causes our blood sugar and blood pressure to be high.
4. Encourages musculoskeletal conditions such as muscular strains
5. Changes in our nutritional and digestive behaviours
6. Makes mental health conditions like anxiety and sadness worse
7. Declined our immune systems
8. Brings on chronic migraines and frequent headaches
9. Makes us more irritable and prone to rage 10. Impairs our ability to focus and concentrate on activities
A person experiencing stress at work can take care of oneself in a number of ways, such as:
1. Take action after considering the adjustments you must make at work to lower your stress levels. You can manage certain adjustments on your own, but others will require other people's help.
2. Discuss your worries with the human resources manager or your boss.
3. Make sure you have a good plan in place. Rank your tasks according to importance. The hardest duties should be scheduled for the early hours of the day when you are most alert.
4. Ensure your own well-being. Maintain a balanced diet and exercise frequently.
5. Think about the advantages of routine rest. You may give yoga or meditation a try.
6. Make sure you have enough personal time each week.
7. Don't vent your stress on family members. Tell them about your work-related issues instead and solicit their advice and support.
8. Drugs like alcohol and smoking won't reduce stress and can worsen health issues. Steer clear of smoking and excessive drinking.
9. Make an appointment with a psychologist for expert counselling.
10. Even with your best efforts, work-related stress may still be an issue, so you may want to think about switching careers or finding new employment. Consult a career counsellor or psychologist for advice.
Employers must acknowledge that stress at work presents a serious threat to employee health and safety. A business can and needs to take the following measures to prevent employees from experiencing unwanted stress:
1. Make sure the workplace is secure.
2. Ensure that everyone has the right training for their position.
3. Recognizing work-related stress as a real issue can help to de-stigmatize it.
4. Talk about problems and complaints with the staff, and when possible, take the necessary measures.
5. Create a stress management strategy with input from the staff.
6. Encourage a culture where employees have more control over their tasks, opportunities for advancement, and safety.
7. Plan to have a manager of human resources.
8. Reduce the demand for overtime by rearranging tasks or hiring more workers.
9. Be mindful of your employees' personal lives and acknowledge that sometimes work and home obligations will conflict.
10. Consult with medical experts as necessary.
Advantages of reducing stress at work
1. Decreased signs of poor physical and mental health
2. Less accidents, illnesses, and missed workdays
3. Decreased use of sick days, absences, and staff turnover
4. A rise in productivity
5. Greater satisfaction at work
6. Improved employee health and community well-being Lower expenditures for the employer and increased job engagement.
7. Greater satisfaction in the personal life.
(Better Health, 2012)
Conclusion
As I covered in my article, the way in which work stress deals with our lives, how to handle it, and the benefits of managing it It's not only about working hard to get bonuses, salary increases, raises, or promotions; it is essential that our journey in the working duration of our life be healthier and happier.
References
Vickers.F. (2018) Mental Health Awareness: Combatting Stress in the Workplace to increase employee engagement. Interact (online). Available at https://www.interactsoftware.com/blog/mental-health-awareness-combatting-stress-in-the-workplace-to-increase-employee-engagement/. Accessed on 19th April 2023.
NIOSH. (2014) Stress at Work. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (online). Available at https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/99-101/default.html#. Accessed on 19th April 2023.
Better Health. ( 2012) Work-related stress. Better health (online). Available at https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/work-related-stress. Accessed on 19th April 2023.
World Health Organization. (2019) Occupational health (online). Available at https://www.who.int/occupational_health/topics/stressatwp/en/. Accessed on 20th April 2023
1.
This article highlights the issue of workplace stress and its impact on employee productivity and well-being. It emphasizes that job stress occurs when job demands are not matched to the capabilities, resources, or needs of the worker, leading to physical and psychological effects. This also lists various factors that commonly cause work-related stress and suggests ways to manage stress both for employees and employers. The article further explains that reducing stress at work can lead to decreased signs of poor physical and mental health, less accidents, illnesses, and missed workdays, a rise in productivity, greater satisfaction at work, improved employee health and community well-being, and lower expenditures for the employer and increased job engagement. Overall, this provides valuable insights into managing work stress to increase employee engagement and productivity.
ReplyDeleteThis article provides a comprehensive overview of workplace stress, its causes and effects, and ways to manage it. The inclusion of practical tips and recommendations for both employees and employers are helpful and relevant, making this a useful resource for those seeking to address this important issue in the workplace. Great article!
ReplyDeleteVery important topic which makes a higher influence of work-life balance in the current context. High level of stress is also a contributing factor (Mura, 2017) for a rise in demand of higher compensation and benefits. Employees who experience high levels of stress are more likely to engage in unsafe work behaviors and experience workplace accidents and injuries. Therefore it is of utmost important of organisations to take measures for a stress-free working environment.
ReplyDeleteGreat article on managing work stress to increase employee engagement and productivity! The article provides valuable insights into the causes and effects of workplace stress, and offers practical tips for employees to take care of themselves and for employers to create a supportive work environment. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing work-related stress as a real issue and taking proactive measures to prevent it. The benefits of reducing work stress, such as improved physical and mental health, increased productivity, and greater job satisfaction, are also highlighted. Overall, a well-researched and informative article that sheds light on an important topic in today's workplace.
ReplyDeleteEmployees can manage their work stress by adopting a healthy lifestyle, setting boundaries, seeking support, and seeking professional help if needed. Mindfulness and meditation, regular exercise, time management, setting boundaries, seeking support, and seeking professional help can help reduce stress and anxiety levels.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very important topic as emoloyee who is mentally stress ewould not do the extra to improve and also might not deliver the best quality. Also, increased stress can increase the employee turnover rate.
ReplyDelete