Smart Benefits: Combat Employee Stress to Boost Productivity

Monday, April 08, 2019

Rob Calise, GoLocalWorcester Business/Health Expert

Rob Calise

The impact of stress on employees is more than just personal.

According to a survey by Colonial Life, more than 20 percent of workers spend more than five hours at work each week thinking about their stressors. And an additional 50 percent say they lose between one and five hours of work to stress each week.

With the emotional wellbeing of employees critical to attendance, productivity and engagement, here are five ways to help workers alleviate anxiety.

Ensure benefits meet employee needs. With finances and health – their own and their family’s – top concerns, make sure you offer benefits that address these worries, like paid time off, flexible work schedules, financial advice and additional medical coverage.
Offer physical outlets. Give employees the opportunity to relax at work by bringing in fitness or yoga classes, arranging walking groups, or holding mindfulness or medication sessions during the day. Even a ping-pong table or other physical diversion can help.
Provide an EAP. An employee assistance program can help point employees in the right direction for services to deal with their mental health issues, such as referrals to providers to treat their conditions.
Create a positive workplace environment. Create a culture of support by fostering teamwork, having an open-door policy to facilitate dialogue between management and workers, encouraging employees to take breaks and their vacation time.
Show employees you care. Be sure to communicate to employees what you offer to help them decrease their stress since they may not be aware. By highlighting and promoting participation in your programs, you’ll not only improve their wellbeing but their morale as well.

Rob Calise is the Managing Director, Employee Benefits of The Hilb Group of New England, where he helps clients control the costs of employee benefits by focusing on consumer-driven strategies and on how to best utilize the tax savings tools the government provides. Rob serves as Chairman of the Board of United Benefit Advisors, and is a board member of the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of RI Broker Advisory Board, United HealthCare of New England Broker Advisory Board and Rhode Island Business Healthcare Advisors Council. He is also a member of the National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU), American Health Insurance Association (AHIA) and the Employers Council on Flexible Compensation (ECFC), as well as various human resource associations. Rob is a graduate of Bryant University with a BS in Finance