Workplace stress — we hear this term a lot lately. HR professionals understand that excessive workplace stress is an enormously costly problem. The business repercussions are staggering.
According to the Society for Human Resource Management, the National Business Group on Health reports that behavioral work problems (those relating to stress, mental health issues and addictive disorders), “cause 217 million missed workdays each year in the United States and account for 7.6 percent of health expenditures, with an indirect cost of an estimated $105 billion.”
How can we help employers deal with the problem?
First, let’s start by analyzing this issue. As stated above, excessive workplace stress can result in causing extremely high and unforeseen or indirect business costs. For example, excessive stress may cause employees to suffer physically and mentally in ways that call for increased medical care costs, and other related business expenses such as increased workers’ compensation costs. While stress may not be the “official” diagnosis, we know that in the long term it is a very costly problem.
The question then becomes: What are some of the reasons for excessive workplace stress? Here are just two that most employees can relate to:
- Employees who travel a lot are vulnerable. A great deal of time and energy is expended just going back and forth. They still have to deal with the “home-base” workplace issues after a heavy traveling schedule.
- Employees facing numerous deadlines and timeframes, especially when they conflict with other work priorities they are juggling.
My company helps by emphasizing the importance of balancing work and home life. Unfortunately for everyone concerned, some employers ignore this problem as a whole. They may be either too busy or too uninterested to care. They may see their employees as “hired hands,” or as someone needed to just get the job done. The underlying message is one of, “Hey, you’re here just to get the job done. Deal with it, everyone has stress.”
What about those employers who do care and who also must reduce or prevent the enormously high costs of excessive workplace stress? Here are five tips that can work for any employer facing this challenge:
- Address the situation by talking about it. Let employees know that you are aware there is stress in the workplace.
- Extend a helping hand. Let your employees know that you will work with them so they can juggle meeting deadlines and keeping a healthy balance between work and home lives. A sign of support can go a long way and it is relatively cost-free.
- Think about creative or innovative ways to reduce stressful situations. These approaches could be as simple as readjusting work schedules or providing training classes. Again, my company provides alternative and flexible scheduling. The work must be done, but flexibility helps give employees a sense of control over their lives, which in turn helps reduce stress. Some industries, such as manufacturing, face more limitations in this respect. Instead, these type employers can provide classes to help employees learn coping strategies as ways for reducing stress in their lives.
- Evaluate hiring additional staff. Sometimes hiring an additional person seems like an expensive solution to employers. However, this solution may be the best alternative in the long run. Employers can end up spending more time and money should an employee suffering from excessive stress become chronically absent or require medical leave. These situations, too, can cause higher turnover rates, so it is usually better to consider hiring another person.
- Consider bringing in outside counseling or providing an employee assistance program (EAP). Sometimes employees aren’t comfortable explaining to their supervisor that they are stressed out. They may fear being perceived as a “whiner.” They may also fear losing their jobs. If they know that they are speaking confidentially to an outside professional, they may be more inclined to identify the sources of their stress. That way, they can learn how to better cope. Some companies also establish employee “hotline” numbers that provide employees with a way to open up and hold confidential conversations with a professional counselor.
Every business has its unique challenges. However, excessive workplace stress that ends up affecting employee health is a growing universal challenge. Businesses cannot afford to ignore or deny its negative consequences on their bottom line. For the sake of your business and your employees, take steps to improve and affect positive changes at your workplace.