Studies indicate modern-day stress is taking a toll on our lives – our sleep, health,
relationships, performance and overall well-being. Every working individual has experienced
work-related stress at some point in time – ranging from pressure to meet a target to
accomplishing goals and milestones. While we all require a certain amount of stress to
remain motivated and efficient towards our objectives, when stress becomes chronic it can
adversely impact an employee’s personal life and emotional and physical wellbeing. Chronic
stress at work can hamper productivity and lead to burnout. It is important to identify signs
of workplace stress to understand how to reduce it.
Common causes of workplace stress
The current work world values stress – the more stressed or busier you are, the more
important or valuable your role is. According to the World Health Organization, workplace
stress is common when employees are expected to take on tasks that exceed their ability,
know-how, coping in the absence of support from peers or managers. A stressful work
environment can lead to physical and psychological concerns like aches and pains, sleep
disturbances, irritability, hypertension, mood swings, lack of concentration, impatience,
anxiety or depression. Unhealthy coping like relying on smoking/drinking to relieve the
stress and eating unhealthy foods can further compound the problem. Some common
workplace stressors are:
Excessive workloads, unclear or unrealistic expectations
Lack of control or autonomy over job-related decisions
Few opportunities for growth or advancement
Long working hours and job insecurity
Lack of support
Work that isn’t challenging
Long commute to work
While resigning from a stressful job may not always be a handy solution, working on
reducing or eliminating workplace stress can be helpful. Managers can take effective
measures to help ease workplace stress and support employees. Here are a few ideas for
managers to try:
Watch out for the signs
Observe the signs of stressed-out team members – dip in productivity, impaired
performance, poor quality of work, increase in errors, increase in sick leaves or
absenteeism.
Be realistic
Set clear goals and realistic deadlines – communicate clarity, help employees prioritize and
focus on the task at hand, reduce long working hours and offer flexible work options.
Promote safety at the workplace
Encourage open conversations without the fear of retribution – employees need to feel safe
to open up, express their concerns and share their suggestions.
Respect boundaries
Establish a work-life balance for yourself and respect theirs to reduce work-life conflict –
avoid placing too many demands during off-hours so they can switch off from work.
Help them unplug
Encourage team members to exercise, take time off, take regular breaks and attend in-
house wellness programs – set an example by using the resources yourself.
Provide regular updates
Keep employees updated on the latest technology or changes in processes and working
systems at the workplace – this can enhance security and instil a sense of control over the
environment.
Recognise and appreciate
Employees are likely to feel engaged when they feel appreciated – let them know what a
great job they have been doing through an informal chat or make an announcement at a
briefing in front of colleagues.
Offer support
Develop a rapport with your team members and be around to support them for any
challenges they may face – create opportunities for social interaction through team building
and team bonding exercises, direct them for professional support if you see them struggling
to cope.
Contributed by Jefy Minijoseph
