Employee Stress: How Does It Affect Employees?

Employee Stress: How Does It Affect Employees?

Employee stress is an everyday problem. Stress is one of the most significant occupational health hazards accounting for billions of dollars in lost productivity every year.

The US Department of Labor reports that “stress-related disability claims” cost U.S. businesses $13 billion in 2004. And that these costs are rising faster than any other type of ailment. The effects of stress on workers include high absenteeism, declining productivity, falling morale, and higher health care costs.

There are many studies that indicate the effects of stress on employee productivity. Workers who have had a series of difficult days at work have been found to have lower cognitive performance. Even on their days off from work. In one study workers who were under high amounts of stress during their day would perform poorly on cognitive tasks they were given in the evening.

Employees tend to be more stressed during workdays than on the weekends or holidays. Stress significantly lowers performance among employees. Even when there is no clear connection between cause and effect.

What Is Employee Stress?

Employee stress is the unpleasant emotional state that arises when the demands of the job exceed the ability of the employee to cope. Stress can be dealt with using many methods, both for employees and employers.

Employee stress is a result of the pressure and high expectations that employees feel to perform. Stress can be exacerbated by the knowledge that their employer often expects tasks to be done immediately.

Managerial positions are especially prone to reports of stress. And it has been shown that job type (management or non-management) was correlated with self-reported levels of stress. It has also been found that younger employees were more likely to report experiencing symptoms of distress than older workers, and gender was also a factor. These symptoms include: feeling tense, worried about work, easily frustrated, angry, worn out from work, physical symptoms such as headaches/backaches/sleeplessness/irritable bowel syndrome.

Bosses have been found to be more likely to lay off younger workers during a recession, and other studies have found that bosses were less likely to approve of stress-reducing measures for their employees. Stressful jobs are also associated with a lack of career advancement or security. Nearly half (49%) of those who said they weren’t optimistic about getting a raise or promotion over the next 12 months cited job stress as one reason why.

Industries with high rates of employee stress include those which require long work hours, those in which employees feel as though they do not have any autonomy on the job, and those where wages tend to be low compared with other similar jobs. These types of industries include: legal services, financial services, media/telecommunications/technology industries

How Does Stress Affect Employees?

Stress can be very damaging to employee health and safety, and in extreme cases, it has even been linked to death. Over time, this will lead to a decline in productivity and morale among staff members. This is considered the most costly occupational problem in America today.

The effects of stress on workers include high absenteeism, declining productivity, falling morale, and higher health care costs. Employees tend to be more stressed during workdays than on the weekends or holidays. Stress significantly lowers performance among employees, even when there is no clear connection between cause and effect.

High Absenteeism

Another problem that is of concern among employees of businesses is absenteeism. It’s important for employers to talk about the importance of an employee’s attendance not only on their own health but also on the company. Employees who are absent are usually missing out on the chance to get experience with other employees, decrease their stress at work, and make new connections. Employees who are present are more likely to reduce stress in their life, which will help them maintain a good quality of life while they’re at work.

Employers should offer support programs that will give employees opportunities to reflect upon high-stress situations in the future. The cost of offering supportive programs is usually lower than the cost of turnover (both actual and intangible), rehirings, lost productivity, etc.

Declining Productivity

Declining productivity is a consequence of increased stress. Employers should look for ways to reduce employee stress, such as by offering an open-door policy and allowing employees flexibility in their work schedules. Perhaps most importantly, managers have to be aware that there are certain key times during the day. When workers are especially vulnerable to being overwhelmed by stress – moments when a good performance can turn into a bad one without warning.

An employer’s training in techniques will help reduce excessive pressure on their team members is another way of preventing stress among employees at work. Stress management teams or groups may be useful for some employees who want assistance with managing work/life challenges while continuing to function productively. Employees often need a break from the stress of their job, not just more work pressure.

Falling Morale & Higher Health Care Costs

Employers have to be aware of the consequences of higher stress levels in the workplace. When employees are stressed, they are less productive, have higher absenteeism rates, and have lower morale. Employers should take steps to prevent these consequences by offering stress management programs for their employees. Having an open-door policy, allowing flexibility in work schedules for employees, making sure that managers are trained in techniques. That will reduce excessive pressure on their team members, and encourage their employees to have fun at work.

Lowers Performance Quality

When people are feeling stressed, they are less likely to be able to maintain the same level of performance than they would if they weren’t feeling so much pressure. An example of this is when an employee is thinking about what he has to do at work and starts to feel stressed. Because he doesn’t know how he’s supposed to handle it all. This can lower his performance in the workplace by making him start to panic.

Another thing that comes into play with this issue is that when people are under too much stress, they’re also more likely to make mistakes. They may also find themselves having anxiety attacks during the day where they don’t know how they’re going to get through their tasks or make it through the day without destroying their workstation.

Healthcare costs are also lower for employees who feel like they can manage their stress level at work. It will allow them to think more clearly and make sure that they’re able to do their job properly without getting stressed out about it. If people are feeling too much stress, it could have adverse effects on their health. Because of the way that it affects how people cope with things in their lives.

Employee Disengagement

Employees become disengaged when they are faced with high levels of stress during the day. This makes them not want to do anything but go back home. So they can relax instead of worrying about what’s going on at work. While this may seem idealistic since some people need the money from working to support themselves. It can really impact their lives. People who are stressed out to the point that they become disengaged. They just see the job as something that has to be done before they can go home and feel better about everything.

Employee Turnover

When employees lack engagement at work. They tend to start looking for other positions in order to avoid having to do their current tasks anymore. This will create a huge problem for employers because people usually leave the company. When there is too much stress involved with their jobs or when they don’t get along with their co-workers. These two things working together could lead anyone with higher potential down a path where they’re not even trying anymore. Therefore jeopardizing their position in the company.

Stress On Week-Days

Employees tend to be more stressed during workdays than on the weekends or holidays. This is because they are trying to complete more tasks in a shorter amount of time. This causes them to have higher expectations for themselves. There are also deadlines that are imposed on them these are not given during the weekends.  Employees are also under pressure to complete their tasks more quickly, which leads them to take fewer breaks. When the workweek ends, employees may feel relief. Because they will finally be able to relax and spend time with family and friends.

How Can Employers Help Their Employees With Stress?

The biggest thing that causes stress in the workplace is feeling like the company’s priorities don’t align with their own. In order to reduce this stress, one way an employer can prevent stress among its employees is to focus on employee engagement and retention by making sure they know that their opinions matter when it comes to company decisions.

When employees’ priorities are aligned with company priorities. This reduces stress and makes them more likely to stay with the company.

Offer Mindfulness Courses

Employers can help their employees with stress by offering workplace mindfulness courses. The ones are programs aimed at cultivating mindfulness in the workplace. A study which was carried out by a university in Ireland found that, over a three-month period, there were significant improvements in well-being. And less depression among those who took part in a course created specifically for employees, compared to those who didn’t.

The training teaches participants how to take care of themselves and live healthy lives. It also offers strategies for different ways of coping with stressful events. As well as adopting techniques such as proper breathing exercises and meditation. In addition, the program helps employees to identify what they enjoy doing outside of work as well as at work.

Communicate Effectively

One way for employers to help reduce stress among their employees is to focus on communication. Specifical communication about company priorities. Employees want to know that what they’re doing is valuable and that they’re well taken care of by the company. By making an effort to communicate effectively, the employer can alleviate some stress for employees.

Help Employees Achieve Their Personal Goals

Another way employers can help reduce stress among their employees is to make sure that the personal goals of each employee align with those of the company. This can be done by holding a meeting with employees and asking them what they’re hoping to do in the short-term, medium-term, and long-term. Employees can then brainstorm ways to make their goals a reality. The employer should focus on discussing how each goal is achievable. And what steps will need to be taken in order for it to happen?

In conclusion, if you want to reduce the stress among your employees and increase employee retention rates. Then it’s important that you focus on three things: communication about company priorities, mindfulness courses for employees, and making sure their personal goals align with those of the company. The more these areas are addressed in a business strategy, the less stressed out its employees will be which can lead to improved productivity.