Stress, sleep deprivation and feeling overworked are all on the rise among employees – how can you prevent a blowout?
It is estimated that staff suffering from stress, sleep deprivation or feeling overworked are costing Canadian businesses up to $10 billion a year, according to Health Canada, but a simple three step approach can help reduce the impact on your company.
A study from Germany has shown that 80% of people say their stress levels have gone up, while 77% reported increased workloads and 69% complain of sleeping disorders. Add up the results and the risk factors and the FIT Reisen study finds that almost two in three (62%) of workers are at risk of burnout.
When it comes to what you can do about it, doctors talk about the “Three R” approach to burnout:
- Recognize
Watch for behavioural changes such as being less involved in group discussions or activities, turning in work that is below previous standards, or taking frustrations out on others. Burnout is related to stress, so consider signs of extra stress to be warning signals.
- Reverse
Make sure your employee knows support is available. If your benefits plan includes coverage for counselling or therapy, suggest they make use of it. Help them make a plan for managing their workload, and talk to their managers about making sure there is support within their team as well.
- Resilience
Physical and emotional health play a big role in long term mental health. Taking vacations, not working excessive overtime and taking part in recreational activities are all related to a healthy work/life balance. Make sure your staff are taking steps to stress less, and offer them the tools they need to do so. Consider introducing meditation classes or other programs to help workers manage stress.
How do you manage stress in your team?
