There is no shortage of issues causing individuals in the workplace to be stressed out. Whether it be health concerns, a contentious relationship at home, or even issues in the workplace itself, today more than ever, workers are finding themselves at the end of their rope. This being the case, employers will want to look out for stressors that could affect worker productivity.
Keep in mind that a stressed employee is a bad employee. And no company wants bad employees.
There Is a Drop in Productivity
If goals and quotas aren’t being met like they normally were, it’s time to take a look at the physical and mental well-being of your workers. It could be that their plates are too full. Are breaks and time off adequate to meet the needs of your workforce? Anger, exhaustion, and even apathy can be signs of stress. If you find that employees aren’t performing as they once were, gauge their stress levels.
Stressors on the job can include:
- Unattainable production goals
- Strained relations with coworkers
- An environment that doesn’t allow for mistakes
Employee Turnover Is High
One of the telltale signs that your employees may be experiencing stress is if there’s a high turnover rate. Employees are hired but they don’t stay for any length of time and management wonders why. Stress in the workplace is like a pain in the gut. You might not be able to see it with your eyes, but you can feel it in the environment.
Remember that employees may never bring up the topic of stress in the workplace to the company, so the company may need to address stress proactively and go to the employees. Discussions about problems on the job or the work culture may not be easy, but they’re necessary.
Tempers Are Flaring
It’s not normal or healthy for coworkers to fight. And not the disagreements and discussions that are had on all jobs, but the arguments, door-slamming, and literal finger-pointing. If it’s gotten to the point where those things seem normal in your workplace, you really need to check the well-being of the company culture.
You may say that stress is just a part of how the company operates, but even if that’s the case, it’s not healthy. And chances are your employees don’t enjoy the stressful environment they’re working in.
Employees May Make It Known to Management
Although there are always those willing to suffer in silence, chances are there is at least one person that will let higher-ups in the company know that candles are being burned at both ends. It’s important not to look at the person who points out the problem as the cause of the problem but as a means to figure out solutions.
If one person is feeling that the work environment is stressful, there are more than likely others who feel the same way. Take the time to listen and learn from what workers are saying about stress on the job.
The Boss Is Stressed Out
If the boss on the job is experiencing stress, chances are that’s filtering down to the employees. It’s true that business is often stressful, but if the boss finds that he (or she) is unable to deal with the stress in a healthy way, how does he expect his employees to deal with it? Once a stressed-out boss recognizes that he’s part of the problem, he can take steps to learn to deal with the stress.
And once the boss understands how to deal with the stress of the business, he’ll be better able to help employees understand and deal with stress.
Final Thoughts
Although some level of stress is a part of most businesses, there are unhealthy levels of stress that can lead to problems within the company. Once it’s determined what the stressors are, companies should take steps to help their workers deal with the issues in a satisfactory way. Not doing so could be the difference between a healthy business and a toxic one.
