Regardless of personal temperament or occupational suitability, no one is immune from the adverse effects of workplace stress. The human body maintains its primitive fight-or-flight response which can be triggered just as easily sitting at a desk as in the wild. Once the brain perceives a stressor, a physical and emotional response occurs. Too much stress can lead to physical health issues such as high blood pressure and heart disease and mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and burnout, all of which take a toll on employee engagement, productivity, and even your bottom line.
By identifying the telltale signs and understanding the nature of stress at work, industry leaders have an opportunity to implement thoughtful policies to better support their team’s wellbeing, which will ultimately lead to higher employee engagement and satisfaction and lower employee turnover.
In a recent study conducted in partnership with Arizent, we found that nearly 75% of employees surveyed report moderate to high levels of stress. Despite measured efforts across industries to address the stress brought on by the pandemic, 40% of those surveyed said they are more stressed now than they were two years ago. And workplace stress is taking a toll — 46% of middle managers plan to leave their job within the next 12 months due to stress. In GIL’s 2022 State of Stress report, 87% of those surveyed reported that stress had led to feelings of burnout.
It’s clear workers are stressed and looking for a solution. But, how do you solve a problem when you’re unsure what the problem looks like?
When you think about stress, what comes to mind? You might attribute it to irritability, intense worry, or an inability to focus. However, stress often leads to more chronic mental issues such as anxiety, depression, and panic attacks. Stress often results in several physical symptoms, too, such as fatigue, headaches, nausea, insomnia, and chest pain. Other signs of stress at work may prove more difficult to identify. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that serious conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, ulcers, impaired immune function, and increased risk of suicide have roots in stress at work.
As mentioned in the State of Stress report, chronic stress can lead to burnout, which Psychology Today describes as “a state of emotional, mental, and often physical exhaustion brought on by prolonged or repeated stress.” Addressing workplace stress before employees reach burnout is key because once employees reach the burnout stage, they are nearly three times more likely to look for a new job. 28% of employees left their previous jobs due to a lack of mental health and wellbeing support.
First, it’s important to understand that employees may be facing stress from more than just work. In our recent survey, we discovered many employees cite finances as a significant stressor, with almost half stressing over having enough money to retire, and 38% being concerned about having enough money to cover their bills. Additionally, 37% reported worries over mental health, 32% reported worries over physical health, and 25% said they were stressed about their jobs. Knowing their top stressors can help you provide your team with targeted resources to address their stress.
Second, empower your team to maintain their work-life balance. A recent study from The World Health Organization found that employees who worked 55 hours or more per week had an estimated 35% higher stroke risk compared to those who worked a maximum of 40 hours a week. The American Institute of Stress found that long working hours and excessive workload were two of the leading causes of workplace stress. To reduce employee stress, help them be proactive and plan projects with longer deadlines, so they can balance projects instead of feeling pressure to complete everything all at once.
Third, lead by example. When you prioritize your wellbeing, it gives your employees permission to, as well. That may look like taking your PTO and encouraging them to do the same; not working all hours of the evening and expecting them to as well; being transparent about your stressors (where appropriate) and giving them the space to be open and honest as well.
Unfortunately, workplace stress may not ever be eliminated and we know that sometimes it’s not as simple as implementing a more flexible PTO policy or offloading work. Some jobs by their nature are stressful, and in those instances, it’s especially important to give employees access to tools that can help them mitigate their stress, such as wellbeing solutions like Grokker that can help them mind their movement, mood, nutrition, sleep, and more.