5 Ways to Help Your Employees Stay Stress-Free
You want your employees to be happy, productive, and enjoy
coming to work. However, between deadlines, presentations, and budget
management, there are a number of factors that can make them feel stressed.
Stress can cause negative physical and emotional health effects that can impact
productivity, motivation, and focus.
Luckily, there are several steps you can take to in order to help your employees mitigate stress in the workplace and maintain a healthier lifestyle.
You want your employees to be happy, productive, and enjoy
coming to work. However, between deadlines, presentations, and budget
management, there are a number of factors that can make them feel stressed.
Stress can cause negative physical and emotional health effects that can impact
productivity, motivation, and focus.
Luckily, there are several steps you can take to in order to
help your employees mitigate stress in the workplace and maintain a healthier
lifestyle.
1.
Encourage Positive Relationships
Building personal relationships is an essential part of having a cohesive team. Your employees should not only trust each other but also feel like they are supported by their colleagues. Friendships can also help alleviate stress by having someone to confide in and to act as a buffer between daily tasks. Capital One Financial even offers counseling services for their employees!
Give it a Try: New employees can often feel stressed during the time of transition into their new role. Providing that new hire with a mentor who is not their manager gives them someone to turn to when they need help or want to talk. Trying out this “buddy system” can make integrating new employees seamlessly. You can also foster friendships among your colleagues by doing ice breaker activities or encouraging employees to leave their phones at their desks during lunch.
2.
Give Employees Freedom to Decorate Their
Workspace
Spending 40 or more hours a week at a desk or in a cubicle
can seem daunting. Giving your employees the freedom to decorate their
workspace can help them feel more comfortable and relieve stress. Adding a lamp
or string lights instead of fluorescent bulbs can also reduce strain on the
eyes. Small
plants can improve overall air quality and make the space feel more like
home.
Give it a Try: If your employees don’t already
decorate their workspaces, set aside a time for them to bring in photos, small
plants, or knick-knacks to add to their desk. Scheduling this time can
encourage them to make their workspace more comfortable without feeling like
they are ignoring daily duties. You can even give your employees desk
accessories like stress
toys.
3.
Daily Break Times
When work gets tedious, taking a step away from your desk
and focusing on another task for a few minutes can make a huge difference.
Large corporations such as Dropbox help their employees unwind with ping pong
tables, while Google has a bowling alley and a basketball court. However, break
times don’t need to include intense games of pickup basketball to be effective.
The Washington Post found that having the chance to stand up, walk
around, and increase blood flow can help employees focus easier.
Give it a Try: While you probably don’t have the
space to add a basketball court, you can convert an unused office into a break
room. Put a couch, TV, and bookshelf so employees have a place to go to unwind.
Having set times to take a break can help your employees plan their day easier
and avoid feeling overworked. For example, Apple allows employees to meditate
for 30 minutes each day, and Nike has relaxation rooms available.
4.
Offer Perks
Providing perks like days off to volunteer, allowing dogs in
the office, or offering flexible hours are great ways to keep employees excited
about coming to work. While some larger companies such as Mattel give parents
16 hours of school-related time off to be with their children, your company can
start small and find what works best.
Give it a Try: A great place to start is by asking
your employees what types of perks they would like to have. While you won’t be
able to implement them all, you’ll gather ideas you can discuss with management
and potentially put them into action.
5.
Provide Healthy Snacks
Staying energized and focused at work isn’t all about taking
breaks or having fun perks to look forward to. Stress at work can cause some
people to turn to unhealthy foods or skip meals completely. Providing healthy
snacks can help keep your energized, and it is a thoughtful gesture.
Give it a Try: Take a look at your budget and see
what kind of snacks you can offer to your employees. You don’t need an endless
supply of granola bars to make a difference. Fruit trays twice a week or
purchasing a few different types of healthy snacks once a month can go a long
way.
Do what you can around your office to help your employees
manage and reduce stress. Not only will you see a difference in productivity,
but your employees will be happier individuals who look forward to doing their
jobs.
References
Berkowitz, Bonnie. (2014, January 20). The Health Hazards of Sitting. Retrieved August 29, 2019, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/apps/g/page/national/the-health-hazards-of-sitting/750/?noredirect=on
Kahr, Suzanna. (2019, April 18). Unique Ways Top Companies Help Their Employees Manage Stress. Retrieved August 29, 2019, from https://transparency.kununu.com/unique-ways-top-companies-help-employees-manage-stress/
Paljug, Katharine. (2019, February 27). 15 Cool Job Perks
That Keep Employees Happy. Retrieved August 29, 2019, from https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/5134-cool-job-benefits.html
