Let it Flow

Noticing an increase in employee sick time? Increased health care costs causing financial concern? Concerned that worker productivity could be higher? These could be a result of employee stress – an increasing issue in the workplace.

Just yesterday I presented a stress management training, and as I guided participants through a 1 minute meditation, one woman asked “Are they really paying us to do this?” The initial response in the room was laughter. I turned to her and said, “To that point, it may cost less to have you attend stress management training rather than have you continue working in such a stressful environment. Stress is costly to employers and to the individuals.” Employers are taking a closer look at how offering wellness programs at work can improve employee health, increase productivity and help fight rising health care costs.

How it Affects Business
With health care costs in New England rising an average of 12% per year (Watson Wyatt, HR Consulting Firm), employers are in a position to evaluate opportunities to provide stress management and wellness programs to employees.

Consider the following:

• On average, 1 million workers are absent per day in the U.S. (www.stress.org)
• Of the 80 percent of workers who feel stress on the job, half need help managing it. (Gallup Poll, 2000)
• U.S. companies lose approximately $300 billion a year due to absenteeism, burnout, decreased productivity, worker’s compensation claims, and medical insurance costs resulting from employee work-related stress. (www.stress.org)
• 40% of job turnover is stress related. $3,000 to $13,000 is the approximate cost to replace an average employee (www.stress.org)

How Employers Can Help
If stress is building at your company, there is plenty you can do to help yourself, your employees and your business. Start with these three steps.

• Create Awareness - Before you can do anything, acknowledge that workplace stress is an issue in your company. Once you admit stress is an issue, examine employee sick time numbers, health care costs and other factors to determine if helping your employees will be beneficial from a cost perspective. If the answer is yes begin to discuss options for change.

• React Appropriately - Notice the outcomes when you or your employees react to a stressful situation. Is it favorable or could there be a more effective way to handle things? You have a choice in how you react to stress and it’s that reaction that affects the outcome, regardless of the original situation. React favorably and the outcome will be in your favor as well. Start with yourself – be the role model for positive reactions.

• Get some help – Resist the temptation to fix these issues on your own, or worse resist the temptation to avoid the issue. Help is available. Consider offering training to help them manage stress at work and even at home (oftentimes stress is carried from one place to the other). Whether it’s a one day workshop, lunch seminar, or continuous wellness program there are options to suit your needs and budget. A little bit can make a huge impact.

Reasons to Consider Stress Management Programs
Simple really, and include:

• An increase in morale
• Decrease in work related accidents, injury and mistakes
• Decrease in costs related to absenteeism and turnover
• Increased worker productivity (may = increased $$$)

What company doesn’t want that?

The bad news: Stress isn’t going away, and it’s getting costly. The good news: It can be managed. What are you waiting for? Stop stressing about it and take some action.

Tags: Stress //