Some Ways of Handling Stress in the Workplace

Introduction

Stress is having an increasingly negative impact on organisations and their people.

Research is showing
"...44% of workers surveyed said they had experienced a lot of stress during the previous work day. Most (60%) said they felt 'emotionally detached' at work, and 19% were downright miserable..."
Cesar Carvalho, 2022

Three ways to combat stress and support employee well-being:

1. Take a holistic view (don't just handle the symptoms, handle the causes; as physical exercise reduces stress and improves mental health, give people time and opportunities to engage in a wide variety of physical activities that they are passionate about, eg yoga, walking out doors, gyms, jogging, kayaking, ball games, swimming, etc; financial wellness
"... Money is often a top source of anxiety. People want to feel secure and in control when it comes to unexpected expenses. Make financial planning and assistance available..."
Cesar Carvalho, 2022

2. Take breaks (encourage people to take regular breaks during a working day; these can be staggered (including when it best suits them) or synchronised (as everyone is taking a break at the same time, they are less likely to be to disturbed during this time off-line and more rejuvenated by it; flexibility is important)

3. Think like an NGO (greater focus on the purpose, ie impact on people, and less on the figures (profit, growth, etc)
"...The more people connect their work to a sense of purpose, the less likely they are to experience burnout and the negative effects of stress..."
Cesar Carvalho, 2022)