Introduction
With the drastic increase in the pace of our daily lives, stress at work is becoming more and more unbearable. This has led to greater job dissatisfaction and increasing mental health problems. In addition, employees that are stressed have a negative impact on revenues and morale.
Let me share with you 7 simple hacks that a company can implement to reduce stress at work.
1. Encourage Open Dialogue.
Most employees' working stress is caused by their managers, according to data. Employees who have a bad relationship with their boss have been related to behaviors like insomnia, anxiety, high blood pressure, and even higher risk of heart attack, according to a study.
The good news is that it doesn't have to be. Management workshops that focus on leadership development or personal coaching can provide your team and managers with the skills they need to interact with people in a productive and pleasant manner.
Once the team becomes more aware of their own conduct, they'll be better equipped to deal with any interpersonal issues that develop.
2. Build Team Work Off-site
Take your staff somewhere fun to take their minds off job stress and bond with one another if you really want to offer them a break. The options are endless: visit a vineyard, have a drink together at the local pub, watch a baseball game, or have a picnic in the park.
It makes no difference what you do. What's more important is the spirit of getting out to do something fun with your friends to get away from the stress of the office. It will not only assist to minimize workplace stress, but it will also help your staff form personal bonds and collaborate more effectively as a team.
3. Promote Workplace Health.
Exercise and a healthy lifestyle are two of the most effective ways to combat professional stress. Employees' minds are diverted from the stress of their jobs by exercise, allowing them to concentrate on the task at hand. Increased synthesis of endorphins, the brain's feel-good chemicals, also enhances mood. Simple initiatives like those below can be implemented.
Encourage staff to go for a lunchtime walk.
Gym subscriptions should be subsidized.
Once a month, bring a yoga instructor into the office.
Organize a team-based step competition for those who own fitness trackers.
In the office, provide healthful snacks.
4. Modify The Work Environment
The environment is a major source of stress. Consider every component of your workplace environment and what it does (or doesn't) for your employees' well-being. Employee engagement can be influenced by simple factors such as the quality of the coffee or the height of the cubicle walls.
Change the office's color scheme, add more plants, or get new silverware. Consider installing a ping pong if you have the space. This will help employees to divert their attention away from their stress for a few minutes. Employees will be less stressed as a result of any modifications that increase their enjoyment.
5. Implement a Flexible Work Schedule.
The demands of work and home life can rapidly become onerous if any of your employees have children or an elderly parent who requires assistance. Allowing employees to have a flexible work schedule will help them to spend more time with the people they care about, allowing them to be more present at work.
If your employees do work that can be done remotely, allow them to work from home on certain days if it makes their life easier. Slack, Zoom and Google Hangouts, for example, can help maintain the lines of communication open. In this pandemic, work from home has been proven to be effective.
6. Employees Should Be Encouraged To Take Breaks.
Workplace environments that foster nonstop labor have negative consequences for employees, according to Jason Schreier in an article in The New York Times. He described a behavior known as "crunching," in which video game creators labor up to 20 hours a day for days or weeks at a time. As a result, some of the employees suffered from memory loss.
If your staff are overworked and sacrificing their personal time to get things done, it may be time to rethink their workload, which could include adding more people or adjusting expectations.
Employees will return to the office less stressed and more productive if they are encouraged to take breaks throughout the day.
7.Counseling Can Be Provided On-site or Off-site
Many organizations have also started offering counseling and therapy to employees as a means to help them cope with stress. According to a recent study, over half of the workers felt they required assistance learning how to deal with the challenges of their jobs. This method, which can be used in or out of the office, in groups, or individually, can help employees prepare for the stress that will inevitably come their way.
Conclusion
Organizations that are concerned with the well-being of their employees are highly sought after. The above simple hacks can create an environment where employees are motivated to give their best. Do share with us your ideas for making a workplace less stressful.