Employee stress is inevitable at every company, no matter what your business operations may be. Stress can naturally occur in the workplace, due to a whole host of reasons such as long hours, high workloads and even physical environments. Likewise, employees might be bringing their stress from outside of work into the office.
As an employer, you have a duty of care to look out for your staff and protect them from stress at work. However, when left unchecked, stress can have a major impact on employee health and productivity. But how can you help your employee relax without lowering productivity?
Press the reset button
A messy workplace environment can be a main stressor to employees. Your body takes cues from its environment on how it should respond, therefore a cluttered desk can lead to increased stress.
Try setting aside time for your employees to have a declutter, encouraging them to put rubbish in bins, tidying up their desks and even cleaning out their computer desktops. Not only can cleaning be therapeutic, but your employees will instantly feel more in order, with an increased focus.
Flexible working
Sometimes, workplace stress can come from outside of the office, with employees struggling to find a work-life balance. Allowing your employees to set their own schedules and work flexibly can be a great way to relieve stress and boost productivity.
Flexible working allows employees to work from home or to set their own schedules, such as working hours. Therefore, flexible working can be a huge de-stressor for any employees who find it hard to juggle family obligations or those have long commutes. However, with flexible working remember to stay connected to out-of-office employees and reduce workload in line with reduced hours, or you could find that leads to more stress!
Create a “recharge” space
Relaxation or breakout spaces are becoming more popular within the workplace, allowing employees to take time away from their desk to de-stress and recharge. Having recharge spaces in your office can help with wellbeing issues such as backache and eyestrain, as well as improve productivity and alleviate stress.
Recharge spaces must be separate to the working environment and provide a quiet zone for staff to relax, chill out and unwind. These spaces can provide a number of features, including meditation, games or even nap rooms. Once employees are “recharged”, they have renewed energy to take on the rest of their day.
Introduce work perks
Connecting with your employees and showing your appreciation for their hard work and efforts goes a long way in reducing stress. Research found that 35% of employees feel financial rewards other than a pay rise would help to tackle stress at work.
By introducing corporate work perks for your employees, you can help to improve their financial wellbeing. Having a scheme in place to reward your employees with discounts, cashback offers, or gift cards can be a great way to show how much you value their work and decrease stress. You’ll also reap the benefits with improved productivity and increased staff morale – result!
