Top tips for creating a less-stressed workplace
Stress in the workplace has a negative impact on the productivity of your company. Not only does stress put your staff’s health at risk, but it also costs you money in the long run with increased sick days and reduced efficiency. As a business owner in a fast-paced, modern world, you may find yourself stuck trying to find ways to reduce stress in the workplace while getting everything else done. However, you can use our stress-busting strategies to combat this epidemic in your office.
Need to hire more staff to lighten the load? Place a FREE advert on Job Mail today or get in touch with our friendly consultants to find out how we can help you.
What is the impact of stress in the workplace?
Photo source – pixabay.com
Stress in the workplace has a negative impact on the physical and emotional wellbeing of your staff. Faced with high levels of pressure, employees are unable to give their best at work. Stress can also increase bad habits, such as smoking, drinking, and excessively eating junk food. It results in poor performance and higher rates of mistakes. Other consequences include high staff turnover and poor working relationships.
The impact of stress includes the following:
- Anxiety
- Back, shoulder, and neck pain due to the tightening of muscles
- Fatigue
- Low productivity
- Headaches
- Insomnia
- Changes in weight
- Diabetes
- Reduced concentration
- Depression
- Heart disease
Identifying the causes of stress
Many employers use a generic approach to reducing stress in the workplace. However, it’s best for you to find out exactly what stressors your staff is facing. One of the biggest advantages of this approach is that it helps to build relationships and foster clear communication.
Besides casual complaints that are passed around the office, scheduling formal meetings can help you get to the bottom of the issues that your employees are facing. Make sure that you practice active listening, so your employees feel comfortable sharing what’s on their mind. Both individual and team meetings are great opportunities for you to connect with your staff. You can also gather information using a survey or by hosting a workshop.
Create a pleasant workplace environment
Photo source – pixabay.com
The physical environment your staff work in has a big impact on their levels of stress. When you’re considering how to improve the physical environment, you’ll need to take the following into account:
Noise levels
- Privacy
- Office design
- Lighting
- Temperature
- Ventilation
- Bathroom facilities
Give employees the resources they need to keep their desks organised. With their workspaces tidy, they can get more done. Clutter causes unnecessary distractions and contributes to elevated levels of stress.
Hire the right employees
If you’re understaffed, it puts extra pressure on your employees as they struggle with a heavy workload. Likewise, hiring employees who don’t have the right skills for the job can cause stress levels to skyrocket. They’ll struggle to cope with their duties while other employees will be forced to pick up the slack. The bottom line is that you must ensure you hire the right person for the job.
Boost communication
Photo source – pixabay.com
When you create a work environment that fosters good relationships, you help to reduce employee stress levels. A sense of connection and support has a positive impact on the emotional wellbeing of your staff. When it comes to building relationships, proper communication is key.
Set a good example by practising effective communication yourself. This involves expressing your expectations clearly and practising active listening. Make sure your company has open communication channels.
By reducing stress in the workplace, you can create a happier environment for your staff to deliver their best performance. It’s a win-win situation as you’ll be contributing to your employee’s quality of life while enjoying increased levels of productivity. Now that you know the importance of hiring the right person for the job, you can find talented employees on Job Mail.
