Smart Benefits: Stressed Out Employees? Top Ways to Offer Workplace Support

Monday, June 17, 2019

Rob Calise, GoLocalWorcester Business/Health Expert

In a recent Paycheck study, over 60 percent of employees said they felt stressed three or more workdays per week on average. The causes? Hard work, long hours, and a lack of control or resources were some of the top reasons.

Getting a handle on workplace stress is key or a company risks its downsides: absenteeism, loss of productivity, accidents, and turnover. Plus, with forty-four percent of working adults saying their current job affects their overall health, according to a Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health study, the effects can be even more costly, namely, serious diseases such as high blood pressure.

What can businesses do to create a culture of health instead of stress?

Train Managers and Supervisors: Offer stress management training to help make leaders aware of what stress looks like and strategies for creating a healthier environment.
Communicate Change: The unknown can be a source of anxiety for a lot of employees so help them by communicating honestly early and often about impending changes.
Support Downtime: Help workers strike a healthy work-life balance by explaining the benefits your company offers like paid leave when they want or need it.
Offer an EAP: Give workers an employee assistance program so they can access mental health resources and create plan of action to address their stressors.
Hold Stress-Relieving Activities: Consider offering outlets during the day like walking groups, yoga, a quiet room, or even ping-pong so they can step away from their desks and get a break.
Lead by Example: Let employees know it’s okay to take time off by using vacation yourself. And on vacation or even after regular work hours, discourage employees work emails or phone calls by stepping away from your own device.
Set Realistic Expectations: Don’t give workers tasks that exceed their abilities or resources to get the job done. And provide reasonable deadlines so they don’t feel overwhelmed. If they need it, offer to help them prioritize their work.
Deliver Up Support: Help employees feel confident in their ability to perform the responsibilities of their job by providing them adequate direction, support and training.

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