Working life can be stressful, and one of the biggest threats to corporate wellness is through some kind of stress-related illness. Often, jobs revolve around deadlines, expectations and pressure, and this can create a lot of tension in your working life.
There is a delicate line between helpful pressure, motivating people to reach their goals and drive a business forward, and the kind of pressure which starts to affect employees’ wellbeing. High stress offices often suffer from higher levels of absenteeism, lateness and dissatisfied employees who are not fully committed to the job as they are currently looking elsewhere.
Whilst a little stress can be a good thing, it is generally known to be something that is best avoided, and can even manifest itself in physical symptoms. Those suffering from stress are more likely to succumb to common illnesses such as colds, stomach bugs and headaches and can also suffer from difficulties with focus and concentration. As many as three out of four employees claim that their work causes them a significant level of stress, many of them blaming the management.
You may, however, need to look to yourself for an explanation as to why you are so stressed. You may be taking on too much responsibility, for example. Instead, you need to be more realistic about your workload and what you are capable of achieving. You should also start to think about delegating: you do not have to do all the work or make all the decisions yourself. Delegating decisions on to others means that they have a greater level of responsibility and it does not all lie with you.
Employees also need to work on their communication skills: if you are stressed because you are not sure how your boss feels about the work you are doing – ask them! Employers should also take care to give adequate feedback and praise where required. Employers can also make sure that they are thinking about employees as individuals, valuing their individual skills and qualities.
You can also create a nicer work environment to reduce stress. Physically, making the work environment clean, well organised and pleasant to be in can help. Being nicer to colleagues can also reduce stress. Helping to create an environment where everybody gets along whilst working hard can go a long way to helping you, as well as your colleagues, feel less stressed at work.
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