According to an American Psychological Association (APA) survey conducted in August 2021, nearly three-quarters (59%) of employees have experienced adverse effects of work-related stress. Out of 59%, 26% showed a lack of interest, inspiration, or energy, 21% faced difficulty focusing, and 19% demonstrated a lack of effort.
Additionally, according to the survey, employees who tend to feel stressed at work are more likely to intend to look for another job.
So, the pertinent question that arises is, how can employers reduce stress in the workplace? The answer is by creating a healthy employee-environment fit culture. It not only helps reduce stress and improve employee satisfaction levels but also increases retention rates.
How can employers reduce stress in the workplace?
Here is a list of ideas employers must tailor to their workplace requirements.
1. Create a solid work-life balance
An inability to achieve a healthy work-life balance is one of the leading causes of workplace stress. Employees tend to carry work-related anxieties home, affecting their ability to relax, refresh, and fuel their passions. Eventually, this creates a cycle of stress that continues to grow.
How can employers reduce stress in the workplace and help employees achieve work-life balance? There are several ways to accomplish this, such as:
- No disturbance after house timings
- Giving enough time for task completion
- Observing traditional work hours
- Ensuring task-related autonomy
2. Provide employee benefits
Are employee benefits worth the time and effort involved? Do untraditional benefits justify the administrative burden? Well, the answer is yes. Today’s employees consider employee benefits to be just as significant as all the other benefits provided by their employers. Even though the salary is essential, employees value benefits more. They help boost employees’ confidence, foster loyalty and make them feel contented and valued.
3. Encourage open communication
A lack of communication with upper-level management increases mental pressure and leads to work stress. Employees under stress are likely to make more mistakes, leading to poor performance, low morale, and reduced satisfaction. Keeping this in mind, how can employers reduce stress in the workplace? In charge of the organization, they need to create effective communication channels.
Providing more information and opening communication lines will alleviate employee stress. Setting clear expectations of how they should perform a specific task, followed by evaluating their performance, helps boost employees’ productivity. Furthermore, an open environment fosters employee loyalty and trust, leading to innovations and strengthening the company’s image.
5. Introduce wellness programs
Do wellness programs help employees feel less stressed? A recent survey by the American Psychological Association found that 87% of employees believe their employers can help them reduce stress and prevent mental illness. Another easy answer to “how can employers reduce stress in the workplace?” is to invest in wellness programs. It can turn into a valuable asset not just for employees but also for employers.
These programs aim to promote healthy behaviors among employees, including weight management, healthy eating, exercising, and quitting tobacco use. These initiatives lead to prolific work teams and decreased healthcare expenses, which benefits the organization.
6. Create a culture of recognition
Effective management relies heavily on employee recognition. The importance of demonstrating value to employees has grown significantly as the competition for talent has intensified. Keeping recognition programs in focus, how can employers reduce stress in the workplace? The answer is by initiating a recognition program. If you already have one, consider reevaluating how you can reward employees.
Appreciating employees for their achievements and contributions can go beyond bonuses and raises to customized gifts or just a meaningful gesture of gratitude.
7. Resolving workplace conflicts
Conflicts at work can be immensely frustrating and burdensome for your staff and your organization if not dealt with promptly, effectively, and efficiently. Although it is difficult to quantify the impact of workplace conflict, there is no doubt that it is significant when you add up both direct and indirect effects. These include decreased productivity, lower engagement, disturbing workplace relationships, poor results, and increased stress.
In case of conflicts, how can employers reduce stress in the workplace? They can start the resolution process by identifying the root cause and finding available solutions, followed by implementing the best one. Managing workplace conflicts limits work disruptions, increases the success rate, reduces turnover, and ultimately helps to save you time, money, and strained relationships at work.
8. Revamp office space
It is essential to consider the surroundings when it comes to stress levels. It is common for offices to be dreary with dull colors and generic furniture. And it can have a massive impact on employees. In such a case, how can employers reduce stress in the workplace? Well, small tweaks to an office environment can yield surprising results.
Employers need to think carefully about how to make office space enjoyable. Make it appealing by adding motivational, artistic, and creative décor, depending on office requirements. Ensure personalized space along with a common area for employees to get together.
FAQs
How does stress impact employees in the workplace?
It adversely affects the employees’ performance and productivity, leading to increased absenteeism, high turnover, and lower satisfaction levels.
What are the main factors influencing work stress at the workplace?
The main factors that lead to work-related stress are unrealistic demands, tight deadlines, long work hours, workplace conflicts, and lack of communication with management.
What are the benefits of reducing workplace stress?
There are numerous benefits, including improved mental health, greater job satisfaction, reduced absenteeism, increased work engagement, and better performance.
Final Thoughts
It is detrimental to employees’ well-being and businesses’ performance when burnout goes unacknowledged. Therefore, leaders must transform their workplace wellness conceptions to combat this epidemic and create healthier work environments.
We hope this article has helped you understand how can employers reduce stress in the workplace and create a working environment that boosts employees’ productivity.