Managing stress in the workplace is a serious issue that concerns both employees and employers. Stress is, in fact, an ever present reality in the modern professional world that can affect any employee in the workplace. It affects not only employee productivity and quality of life, but also the overall health of the organization.
In this article, we present the origins of this phenomenon, as well as solutions for managing stress at work.
Stress at work: what is it?
In today’s professional environment, where pressure and professional demands are part of everyday life, it is important to understand the phenomenon of stress in the workplace in order to manage it effectively to ensure employee well-being and business performance.
Defining stress in the workplace
Workplace stress is a negative physical and emotional reaction to excessive or pressing work demands.
Fatigue, irritability, anxiety, sleep disorders, reduced productivity: the manifestations of stress in the workplace are varied. What’s more, it affects managers and employees alike. Optimizing its management is therefore a crucial challenge for companies.
The different types of work-related stress
There are generally two categories of work-related stress: positive and negative stress. Positive stress is voluntarily inflicted by an employee in order to achieve a specific objective. It has little or no negative effects.
Negative stress, on the other hand, is a gradual and insidious process which, under pressure, damages the employee’s mental health. It can be highly detrimental to company operations, but often goes unnoticed by the employer.
What causes stress in the workplace?
The first step towards optimum management of stress at work is to understand its causes.
This is because several factors within a company can cause stress among its employees. These factors are grouped together under the term “psychosocial risks at work”. Among the most common of these are:
- Too heavy a workload: when the list of tasks is long enough, employees rush to complete everything quickly, which, in the absence of a stress management approach, increases pressure and reduces productivity;
- Limited scope for action and initiative: Depending on the hierarchy for every little decision can give an employee the impression that they have no control. This lack of freedom reduces motivation and increases negative emotions, including stress;
- Conflict: Whether caused by disagreements or competition, tensions between colleagues create a stressful work atmosphere and gradually undermine the collective mental well-being;
- A feeling of job insecurity: in some companies, employees live in constant fear of losing their jobs despite their efforts and results. This feeling of uncertainty can lead to stress;
- Incompatibility between private and professional life: when limits on responsibilities and schedules are ill-defined, the balance between work and private life is tenuous. This can lead to a lack of downtime for the employee, and promote stress.
It is therefore vital for employers to be attentive to these different factors and to find stress management strategies to reduce them.
What are the signs of stress in the workplace?
Certain symptoms offer an indication of the level of stress to which a person is exposed in the workplace. As an employer, you need to monitor these signals in your employees so you can react and take appropriate measures to manage stress at work.
Among the most common signs of stress in the workplace are the following:
- Physical and mental fatigue, which translates into a lack of involvement in the company’s activities;
- Irritability, manifested by abrupt reactions or increased impatience with colleagues or tasks;
- Nervousness and excessive worries about work;
- Reduced performance (lower quality of work, frequent delays, etc.);
- Behavioral changes such as isolation, procrastination or altered work habits, which can be amplified without a stress management approach;
- Physical complaints from employees, such as headaches, pain or time off.
Why is it important to manage stress at work?
An employee’s productivity depends on their physical and mental state. Managing stress in the workplace is essential for performance.
Avoid repeated absences
Stressed employees often tend to be regularly absent from work, either for health reasons, or due to a lack of motivation. A good approach to managing stress in the workplace will significantly reduce repeated absences.
Through such an approach, employers can reduce the factors that place additional pressure on their employees. They can thus create a healthier working environment to improve their mental state.
Reduce turnover rate
Implementing a workplace stress management system enables a company to improve its working environment and, consequently, reduce staff turnover.
Indeed, when the work environment is healthy, balanced and supportive, employees are more engaged and satisfied with their jobs. As a result, they are less likely to quit, and the company does not have to replace them with new recruits.
In addition, with the aim of reducing stress, the integration of psychometric recruitment tests can help to select candidates whose psychological profile is better suited to the company culture, reducing the need for frequent employee replacement.
Reducing expenses
Improving performance at work is directly linked to good stress management. Less stressed employees are more focused and motivated, which translates into increased productivity and quality of work.
A work environment that promotes good stress management enables employees to better manage their time and tasks, reducing errors and delays. What’s more, a good working climate encourages creativity and innovation.
By supporting their employees in managing stress at work, companies can benefit from high-performance teams and higher productivity.
What are the best ways to manage stress in the workplace?
To manage stress in the workplace, you need to create the right working environment. This will help to limit psychosocial risks and preserve the mental and physical health of your employees.
Assessing well-being at work
One of the best ways of combating stress in the workplace is to develop a system for periodically assessing employees’ stress levels.
Employers can use a questionnaire for this purpose. This questionnaire enables employees to give their opinions and propose actions to achieve a better quality of life at work.
For example, questions might focus on their assessment of current working conditions or the degree of autonomy they would like to have. Thanks to these answers, employers can implement wellness policies to safeguard the health of their employees.
Personal development
Organizing expert-led training courses on stress management techniques is an excellent way for managers to contribute to the well-being of their teams. These training courses provide an opportunity for employees to learn how to manage their emotions more effectively, communicate with management and share difficulties encountered in the performance of their duties. They can last several days and include personal development or soft skills through coaching in stress management techniques, for example. These sessions boost employees’ self-confidence and make them more resilient in the face of pressure.
The impact of this training on your employees will translate into better performance at work, which means greater returns for your company.
Recognition and Reward
Lack of recognition is one of the main reasons why employees become stressed, demotivated and end up quitting their jobs. Failing to congratulate employees on results is perceived as devaluing their efforts and minimizing the sacrifices they have made to achieve their goals. They feel ignored, which increases their stress, decreases their motivation and can lead them to doubt their value within the company. On the contrary, by taking the time to give positive feedback and encourage good behavior, you’ll reinforce commitment at work and employee satisfaction. They’ll be more motivated and committed to their tasks.
Rewarding employees is also an excellent way of relieving stress and pressure. Gestures such as a raise, a promotion or even a free lunch can be greatly appreciated.
Team Building
Team building is an approach to stress management in the workplace that involves organizing joint activities or exercises.
These initiatives create a healthy, positive working environment. They foster relationships between employees and reduce tension. What’s more, they improve communication and help employees deal with stressful situations together.
By taking part in team-building activities, employees can make friends and discover common interests. This will enable them to collaborate more effectively.
Here are a few examples of team-building activities to help manage stress at work:
- Stress management workshops;
- Team sports such as football and volleyball, which encourage cooperation and relaxation;
- Outdoor excursions such as group hikes;
- Challenges and games such as escape rooms;
- Arts and crafts that encourage creativity and relaxation;
- Meditation or yoga sessions.
Are there any tools to optimize stress management at work?
Today, a company can use more than one workplace stress management tool to improve well-being and optimize their performance. Here are just a few of the tools available:
- Meditation apps: offer meditation and relaxation exercises to reduce anxiety and stress. Users can choose exercises adapted to their level of experience to develop breathing techniques useful in stressful situations;
- Workplace stress management software: These tools help measure stress levels and suggest appropriate solutions. They also enable progress to be monitored and define a long-term plan to prevent stress;
- Online therapy platforms: offer employees the opportunity to chat anonymously with stress management specialists via online sessions, easily accessible and often less expensive than traditional therapies;
- Time management software: these tools improve productivity by helping employees to organize, plan and prioritize tasks according to the time available. They help you find free time for a better work-life balance.
By using these tools, companies can create a healthy work environment, reduce stress and improve employee well-being and performance.
What can we learn from stress management at work?
In short, stress is an unavoidable part of working life. That said, while it can be motivating and promote efficiency, it can also be harmful, to the point of compromising employees’ physical and mental well-being, and affecting the company’s overall activity.
To avoid this, employers need to take their employees’ seriously, and regularly assess their stress levels. They must also prevent psychosocial risks by implementing appropriate measures.
Follow-up programs and training to develop employees’ skills can also be organized, which will help employees feel more confident and less sensitive to the pressure of tasks.
Last but not least, the company can set up a recognition and reward policy, or organize team-building activities to strengthen employee bonds.
These actions help to manage stress in the workplace and consequently increase employees’ overall performance.
