1. Presented by: Achievers
Workplace Stress
Presented by: Achievers

2. What is stress?? Anything that poses a threat to you
Our response to that situation or threat
Fight or Flight?

3. Now, What is work place stress??
When the task doesn’t match the person
What workplace stress is NOT
Dissatisfaction
Lack of commitment
Incompetence

4. Transaction Stress Model
Primary appraisal
Secondary appraisal
Active or avoidant coping (Fight or flight?)

5. Causes of Workplace Stress
Lack of control
Weak or ineffective management
Poor working environment

6. Causes of Stress Many employees are feeling burnout.
The weak economy is causing many companies to try to accomplish equal or even more work with fewer employees
Many of the contributing factors to feeling burnout at work are:
Role Ambiguity
Workload
Control/Empowerment
Support

7. Burnout Reaction to chronic work stress Emotional exhaustion
Disengagement

8. Employer-Employee Morale
One of the biggest factors of employer-employee morale is how the two parties view different issues.
About 75% of employers feel that their employees are satisfied with their jobs, while only 50% of employees feel the same way.
32% of employees are actively seeking employment with another company, while only 13% of employers believe that their employees are looking for other jobs.
When asked what was their most desired benefit, 45% of employees chose professional development opportunities as their most desired benefit; however, most employers do not do this very often.

9. Affects on Organization
Absenteeism
Staff over rated
Low productivity

10. Effects of Stress in the Workplace
Absenteeism- unscheduled or unauthorized absence from work.
Presenteeism- lost productivity that occurs when employees come to work ill and perform below average.
Employee turnover- the number or percentage of workers who leave an organization and are replaced by new employees.

11. Top 5 Reasons for Employee Turnover
Not enough professional development opportunities
Poor compensation
Boredom
Poor work/life balance
Stress and unfair treatment

12. What Can Organizations Do About Workplace Stress?

13. Change The Organization of Work
Organization of Work: "the way jobs are designed and performed, and the organizational practices that influence job design”(Organization of Work The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health NIOSH)

14. Change the Organization of Work through Stress Related Programs
Staff appraisals where stress is discussed
Health and safety risk assessments that Incorporate stress-related factors
Management stress awareness training
Work-life balance initiatives

15. Start with Staff Appraisals About Stress
Example
Face-to-face interviews with the staff
Interviewer uses a systematic questionnaire/ occupational stress indicator
Lets management know what’s stressing employees
Gives employees a chance to vent
Increases employee involvement
Can backfire if action is not taken

16. Health and Safety Risk Assessments with Stress Addressed
Assess the mental strain of the job
Reduce the information- process requirements of simple jobs
Limit information and memorization that the job requires
Provide adequate lighting
Easy-to-understand gauges and displays
Simple-to-operate equipment
Clear instructions
Increase the autonomy and social support for more difficult jobs
Continued

17. Health and Safety Risk Assessments with Stress Addressed (cont.)
Stress reducing health initiatives
Wellness programs: comprise of workshops that teach employees how to implement stress reducing individual behaviors, such as losing weight, exercising, and giving up smoking
Employee assistance programs: helps employees deal with personal problems that might adversely impact their work performance, health, and well-being

18. Management Stress Awareness Training
Managers should:
Give assistance and guidance when necessary
Be familiar with the meaning, causes, and coping strategies. (which are being addressed in this discussion)
Recognize physiological and psychological signs of stress
Loss or gain of substantial weight
Erratic attendance
Increased accidents
Emotional instability
Changes in behavior

19. Work-Life Balance Initiatives
Dependent care
On-site child care
Work-family workshops
Family leave
Flexible scheduling

20. Power Naps, Company Yoga, & Wellness Centers
New Techniques that Organizations are Using to Improve Workplace Stress:
Power Naps, Company Yoga, & Wellness Centers

21. Power Naps Studies have shown that naps improve memory function
Allows employees to reboot and energize to tackle the remaining work load for the day
Helps the body catch up on sleep deprivation
Job stress increases potential disease, and cells do not repair well with little energy; napping will improve cell repair.

22. Increase mental clarity Boost productivity Improve memory
Company Yoga
Effects
Conference Room Yoga
Increase mental clarity Boost productivity Improve memory
Companies use basements and conference room areas for yoga classes
1 hour sessions
3 days a week
Other areas: Lawns, break rooms, and storage areas.

23. Company Yoga Yoga Retreats Company Gym Yoga
2 day corporate team- building retreat
Includes active relaxation yoga
Hiking and Sports
Team-building exercise
Interact on social level with co- workers
Companies: Nike, Pepsi, HBO, & Google
Offer gym membership as opposed to installing a gym on site.
Helps employees stay in shape and relax.

24. Onsite Wellness Centers
Lower health cost, absenteeism, and workplace stress
Helps benefit the organization’s productivity and morale.
The program helps employees by concentrating on certain goals and needs

25. Personal Techniques for Dealing with Stress
Stay Healthy
Diet
Exercise
Sleep
Good time management
Prioritize work tasks
Break large tasks into smaller tasks
Take regular breaks
Break bad work habits
sloppy communication
improper use of work time

26. Questions??