The Real Costs of Job Stress

The High Cost of Workplace Stress

Are you an employer wondering why your employees have started missing work because of health problems? Or maybe you’re wondering why they come to work every day with dark circles under their sleepy eyes.

If this sounds eerily like your workplace, then you may need to start thinking about workplace stress and how to reduce it. Workplace stress is becoming an enormous problem and can result in lost hours, lower productivity and health problems. In fact, recent research notes that workplace stress is costing American companies $300 billion each year. Read on to learn more about the dangers of stress on the job.

The Top Causes of Job Stress

Most people report the top causes of stress at work to be work overload, problems with supervisors and coworkers, and worries about money, including fear of layoffs and retirement fears. Others also cite medical conditions and personal or family-related problems as major causes of stress. Of American workers, 76% cite money and work as major contributors to stress.

Stress can lead to serious health problems. Conditions like heart problems, obesity, and diabetes can have a stress component, and these conditions can also be exacerbated by stress. Furthermore, even conditions like influenza and other preventable infections can become more prevalent among populations undergoing extreme chronic stress.

With that in mind, it is clear to see how much money stress can cost your company. If your employees are stressed, then you could be facing a personnel crisis if your employees become sick and miss extra work.

How to Manage Stress

To combat stress and make the workplace a more productive environment, some managers have had success with making a few adjustments. Make sure to maintain open communication with your employees about their workload and rearrange assignments as needed. While a successful business is always fast-paced, it doesn’t have to be punishing. Instead, invest resources in maintaining a more steady workload so your employees don’t have to feel like pulling their hair out every day.

You can also try other techniques, like parties or other fun events at the office to liven up the mood. These events don’t have to be elaborate – just a birthday party once a month will do. Not only will workplace parties help boost morale, but they are also shown to foster camaraderie between employees as another form of support, which will also counteract the effects of stress.