Blog

Employee well-being must be prior to an organization, regardless of its size and nature. The workplace should provide a work-life balance, mental well-being, and mindfulness in the workplace for every employee. The onus of this falls on the shoulders of the HR department to make sure the workplace stress is manageable for all employees. In this blog, let us move on to see the factors that contribute to workplace stress: According to an article published by The American Institute of Stress, an employee’s workload accounts for 46 % of stress, people issue at 28 %, juggling work and personal lives at 28 %, and job security at 6 %. High stress levels can affect employee productivity and performance, as well as physical and mental health. Eventually, this will affect the personal life too. Apart from the statistics stated above, several other factors are linked to workplace stress. It includes:

• Low salary
• Huge workloads
• Unhealthy peer support
• Limited prospects for growth
• Unappealing tasks

Many of the employees are facing stress and finding the best solutions to deal with the stress. HR professionals should reach their hands out to help fellow colleagues manage their stress levels appropriately. Let us see some of the ways how HR can help deal with stress levels.

1. Consider the environment

Though a minor issue, the workplace environment can be a source of stress for many employees. Sometimes, it might be the employee desks that are too messy or outdated technology. Employees can be given the space to personalize their working environment to bring the materials for their choice to the desk. An organized and uncluttered space will relieve more stress and improve employee concentration. But in these remote working days, employees may face challenges in their home-office spaces. HR teams can help your teams if they need some materials that will help to increase productivity. Lowering employee stress and increasing the success rate should be the primary aim of HR professionals.

2. Flexibility

Another factor that can contribute to employee stress is the rigorous working hours. Never force your employees to work on a regular 9 to 5 timing. On these remote working days, allow them to choose a convenient time. As far as the work quality is not affected, you need not worry about the time they decide to work. Providing an option for them to choose a flexible time will help organizations to extend the hands of trust. Team leads can make proper communication, track tasks, and outline clear expectations and guidelines to your team member beforehand, reducing your dubiousness.

3. Employee wellness program

An employee wellness program will help employees to reduce their stress levels. HR departments should take initiatives to start employee wellness programs, including meditation, exercises, mental well-being, healthy eating habits, etc. These kinds of programs are beneficial to staff and employers alike. A well-executed program can enhance productivity, improve morale, and reduce stress. As there is no one-size-fits-all approach to these wellness programs, we need to design programs that cater to the needs of your employees.

4. Open doors and open ears

HR teams of every organization must be available to the employees every time. A policy like open doors and open ears can be helpful in this scenario. They should be a group of approachable people to whom employees can reach out when they need advice and resolutions. There should be open and regular communication between employees and HR teams. Employees should be able to speak out their stress to HR teams.

5. Employee recognition

Employee recognition is one of the great ways to help your employees to reduce stress. It helps them to stay engaged and increase productivity. Recognizing the effort of your team members and appreciating them will let the team members have stress relief. So occasionally, remember to appreciate your employees and tell them how great they are doing.

In summary

HR managers have a significant role in maintaining the stress level of the employees. Remember that employees do not have to put their health or happiness on hold because of happenings at work. Let us have a quick recap on the simple and effective ways to reduce workplace stress in employees.

• Consider the environment
• Flexible work options
• Employee wellness program
• Open doors and open ears
• Employee recognition programs

These simple methods can help you reduce workplace stress, which will enhance their lives and produce loyal team members who look forward to coming to work every day. Create a less stressful workplace for everyone, including yourself, by being a great HR team and leading by example.