Workplace Stress - Causes and Prevention
Dr Surajit Sarker PhD, MBA, CFE, CFI, CCGP, CCLP, CCSRP
Corporate Affairs & Government Relations; Certified Independent Director; Fraud Investigator & Crime Analyst; Specialized in Public Policy, Strategic Partnerships, Compliance, Governance, Corporate Law; Author & Lecturer
Workplace Stress is defined by the World Health Organization as ‘the response people may have when presented with work demands and pressures that are not matched to their knowledge and abilities and which challenge their ability to cope’, and elaborated that it can be caused ‘by poor work organization (the way we design jobs and work systems, and the way we manage them), by poor work design (e.g., lack of control over work processes), poor management, unsatisfactory working conditions and lack of support from colleagues and supervisors’. While workplace stress, stigma and attitudes towards employees suffering from stress or mental illness have been researched and interventions developed to address them better, it still remains a neglected aspect across different industries and countries, including India, and only a few of the learnings are actually implemented.
Some of the factors that commonly cause work-related stress include:
Work-related stress is a growing problem around the world that affects not only the health and wellbeing of employees, but also the productivity of organisations. Work-related stress arises where work demands of various types and combinations exceed the person’s capacity and capability to cope. Work-related stress is the second most common compensated illness/injury in Australia, after musculoskeletal disorders.
The signs or symptoms of work-related stress can be physical, psychological and behavioural. Physical symptoms include:
Psychological symptoms include:
Behavioural symptoms include:
Prevention :
1. Encourage workplace wellness
Exercise and healthy living?are two of your best weapons against workplace stress. Exercise takes employees' minds?off the stress of their job ?to focus on the task at hand. It also improves moods by increasing the production of endorphins, the?brain's feel-good neurotransmitters.
Employees feel valued when they think you're looking out for their health.?A study reported that 66% of employees felt extremely or very happy when their employer regularly stocked the refrigerator and cupboards, and 83% said that having healthy and fresh snack options was a huge perk. Something as simple as keeping fresh fruit or cartons of yogurt in the fridge goes a long way with employees.
2. Revamp the habitat
A lot of stress comes from environment. Think about every aspect of your office space and what it does (or doesn’t do) for the wellness of your team. Simple things like the quality of the coffee or the height of the cubicle walls can affect employee engagement.
Update the office with an upbeat colour scheme, additional plants, or new silverware. If you have the space, think about adding a ping pong or foosball table to allow employees to take their mind off of their stress for a few minutes. Any changes that increase employee enjoyment will leave them feeling less stressed.
?3. Allow for flexible hours and remote working
You hired your employees because you have confidence in their ability to do their jobs well and in a timely manner—so let them prove it. Your office shouldn’t feel like a cell, but rather a place that facilitates getting a job done. Let your employees know that their job is defined by the quality and timeliness of their work, not when they punch the clock.
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Allow your employees to work remotely and give flexibility for start and end times. This freedom is great for office morale, and the policy shows employees that you trust them enough not to babysit. ?
?4. Encourage social activity
Employees spend a lot of time together, and the more comfortable they are, the less stress they will feel. As coworkers get to know each other, expectations and communication barriers are broken down, greasing the wheels for easier future interactions.?
5. Create quiet time
Stress can't be completely avoided, but you?can?help alleviate it when it arrives. Ensure your employees have a place where they can take a break.
Our research shows that more than 80 percent of disengaged and hostile employees preferred the opportunity to have stress-relief breaks, such as a nap, massage, or required break. A small room, a lounge space at the end of the hall, and even an outdoor bench can be perfect places to find refuge from the chaos of the daily grind. Think about longer, retreat-style vacations, which can serve the same purpose.
If your organization can afford to do so, consider implementing "No Meeting Mondays" or something similar, essentially blocking off time for employees to focus in on individual task and keep from getting bogged down with meetings or overwhelmed by a heavy workload.
?6. Provide onsite or distance counselling
Many companies have also begun providing counselling as a way for employees to help deal with stress; in a recent study, almost half of workers felt they?needed help in learning how to handle the stresses ?of their jobs. This strategy—in or out of the office, in group settings or individually—can help employees prepare for what stress will come their way.
?7. Recognize your employees
Employees love being praised for a job well done and recognizing their success results in a serious boost in engagement. Each employee has a different personality, so?be mindful when considering how and when to recognize . Some employees appreciate a call-out during a meeting or praise in a company-wide email, while more reserved types might prefer a card on their desk or a thank you in person.
However you choose to recognize, your employees will appreciate that you are aware off their success and want to share it with others. This makes them happier and more comfortable, in turn lowering stress levels.
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Role of the Government
The government should play a key role in ensuring that policies are in place that address workplace stress. Not only should the government identify vulnerable populations such as women, children, persons with disability at different workplaces, but also ensure that every sector has appropriate safeguards to protect the rights of all employees including vulnerable populations. The government should also monitor how different sectors are performing with respect to workplace stress and have additional strategies in place to address issues related to sectors which have specifically higher level of physical or psychological stress such as mines, factories, health sector, among others. Legal mechanisms should be in place to enforce laws and regulate them and penalize organizations which flout existing laws. The legal system should provide avenues that can be accessed both by employers and employees alike. The aim should be that workplace is seen as a fair and non-discriminatory zone as far as stress, and mental ill-health are concerned.
Conclusion
Workplace stress and associated mental ill-health is a fact that every employer and employee live with on a daily basis. However, it often is the case that neither are aware of the issues fully and nor are well informed about its ramifications. Although laws are present in most countries to ensure that the rights of persons suffering from mental disorders related to workplace stress are safeguarded, often such are not executed or regulated effectively, leading to a situation where persons with mental disorders are not able to verbalize their problems and suffer silently - a situation that ultimately leads to increasing mental health-related disability that affects productivity. In this year, when workplace stress is being identified globally as a cause for concern, all stakeholders should take additional notice of its importance and see what needs to be done to improve the situation on the ground and make workplace a safer and healthier place for all.
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