According to the World Health Organization (WHO), stress can be any form of change that causes physical, emotional, or psychological strain. Contrastingly, stress management is the broad spectrum of techniques to control one’s stress levels. Managers must understand the importance of managing stress to prevent employees from burning out. The HR experts at GCS Malta discuss workplace stress and 5 strategies to address it.
Top Work Stress Factors
33% of American workers claim they feel stressed out during their workday. While everyone gets stressed for their own personal reasons, there are also common work stress factors to look out for:
- Low salaries
- Lack of resources
- Lack of career growth
- Toxic work environment
- Overwhelming workload
- Unrealistic job expectations
- Unhealthy work-life balance
- Absence of recognition culture
Signs of Stress
As an HR professional, there are various signs of stress to look out for:
- Mood swings
- Excessive workload
- Increase in absenteeism
- Conflicts with co-workers
- Decrease in productivity & engagement
The Consequences of Workplace Stress
While often overlooked by many companies, according to the American Psychological Association (APA), workplace stress is estimated to cost U.S. employers $300 billion per year due to decreased productivity, employee turnover, and absenteeism. In addition, the Centre for Workplace Mental Health reports that 120,000 deaths are caused by excessive workplace stress.
5 Ways HR can Address Workplace Stress
One major issue of workplace stress is that it is often untreated, even when reported by employees. Here are 5 strategies HR can implement to manage stress at the workplace:
- Implement an employee wellness programme
Employee wellness programmes are designed to help employees manage their personal lives and reduce stress-both personal and work-related. Overall, the programme should aim at creating a less stressful work environment. This can be done through training sessions, exercises, offering healthy food, etc.
- Offer as much flexibility as possible
Fostering a flexible work culture will help employees to maintain a healthier work-life balance. For many, it is the rigid working hours which cause a great deal of stress. Allowing employees to work hybrid or fully remote on a flexi-time basis will foster better productivity and engagement levels whilst also reducing workplace stress.
- Set realistic goals
Setting unattainable goals for your employees can be a significant stress factor and cause high levels of burnout. When setting up goals, ensure they are tangible and a balance between personal and professional objectives.
- Equip employees with good conflict-resolution skills
While the work itself can cause workplace stress, there is also stress caused by other co-workers. Therefore, training employees to have good conflict-resolution skills can significantly reduce tension and resolve conflict.
- Conduct regular surveys
While having strategies to combat workplace stress is fantastic, it is also crucial to conduct regular surveys to keep up with your employees’ temperament. Generating honest feedback will give you a clear insight into what employees feel about their work and workplace. Then, after conducting the surveys, act on the gathered feedback.
Why GCS Malta?
At GCS Malta, our team of highly skilled Human Resources professionals aims to create a welcoming culture in every workplace. Offering several services, from stress management to performance reviews to employment branding, our HR professionals are here to help your business grow. Contact us today for more information.
