We all know that stress levels in the workplace are reaching unreasonable levels. And most sensible human beings will agree that we have to take action to fix this problem.
However, some government agencies and, I must say, some consultants are all for creating yet another paper and theoretical exercise that will have little benefit to the employees or the business. Managers don't need lectures on how too much stress diminishes people's creativity and productivity, increases absenteeism, extended sick leave and can result in tribunal payouts of tens or hundreds of thousands of pounds. Managers want assistance not lectures.
Do whatever you can to escape the form filling that supposed ensure you meet certain "stress management standards". Avoid like the plague what are now being called "stress risk assessments". These will require the resources of a full time employee and lead to even more stress!
Rather concentrate on straightforward and easily applied measures to reduce stress and at the same time show employees and regulatory authorities and legal courts that your organisation does stake stress seriously.
Here are just ten you could start with.
1. Ensure your Employee Handbook and Induction has plenty of wording in it that shows that management knows about the adverse effects of too much stress. Explain what people must do if they feel under stress. Go over the top to show that management wants and welcomes discussion reporting of excess stress. Who ever is giving the induction must state this orally too.
2. Have a clear, written and concise procedure that people can follow if they find stress getting out of hand. What can people do if they feel under stress? Who should they speak to? What do they do if it's their boss who is the cause of stress? What help can the business offer? Make sure employees know they also have a responsibility to look after their physical and mental health.
3. Give people clear job descriptions so they know what is required of them and revisit the description every six months to update them. You can do this in the annual or (better) twice-yearly appraisal Involve people in writing and re-negotiating job descriptions. Specifically ask about what can be done to reduce stress and record the answer.
4. Keep referring to stress in newsletters, speeches and meetings. Put stress reduction on the agenda of management meetings and have a set section in the newsletter. Senior managers should include a mention of stress in at least one speech per year.
5. Offer people-management/leadership workshops to managers and supervisors. Many of them don't know how to get the best from their people. Unnecessary tension is caused by ignorance of how to speak to and treat people effectively in the modern workplace. Often supervisors don't know they're a source of stress ? nobody tells them. Keep it simple: one day is enough and avoid "models and theories of leadership"!
6. Offer stress management workshops and literature. Even if there are no current stress problems offer the workshops anyway. Even insist people go. Keep it simple ? a half-day is enough and avoid all theory! Give people a book or CD on stress management as part of the induction.
7. Offer a time management workshop. It's amazing how people can take better control when they know it's okay to say "no", to scrap a meeting, to scrap a report, to cut short appointments and to find better, quicker less burdensome ways of doing things. Most people get bogged down because they don't think in terms of time management and even when they do, some are too afraid to approach the boss. They will think you'll think, they're lazy or uncooperative.
8. Monitor stress levels. No, you don't need an 80-question stress climate survey or bureaucratic stress management standards. Just twice a year issue a half-page with one question: "For you personally give three things the organisation could do to reduce unreasonable stress". Make this an anonymous exercise and publish the results with actions taken.
9. Take time to listen and act. If a stress issue is raised, be seen to be taking it seriously. Make time to listen, document the issues and then take action. Whilst keeping confidences publicise what action has been taken.
10. Unfortunately, sooner or later you'll have to prove to some authority that you are doing things to combat unreasonable stress. Therefore keep a running and up-to-date record ? just a simple book - of all the things your organisation is doing to reduce stress in the workplace. Record everything. For example, if you run a Recruitment Interviewing Course, record how you amended the content to include an hour or so on testing to see if candidates can cope with the stress of a particular job.
Debate about what stress is, the relative responsibilities of employers and employees and what systems to use will go on and on. You might as well just get on and do what commonsense and good leadership dictates.
Copyright (c) 2004 Dr William Robb. Electronic distribution to ezines, friends and colleagues permitted but publication in print prohibited without written permission.
Dr Bill Robb is managing director of Aberdeen-based Profit Improvers Ltd and helps organisations and people improve their performance. He specialises in fixing difficult inter-company and inter-department relationships. http://www.mytimemanagementsecrets.com
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
Feeling stressed out lately? Don't worry, there is a simple... Read More
1. The Law of EveryoneIt is not neccessarily wrong to... Read More
What part of no don't you understand? - Bumper stickerThe... Read More
Life would be so wonderful if it weren't for other... Read More
A while back, I was in a minor fender-bender accident,... Read More
Meditation seems to have arrived in the mainstream of late,... Read More
If you suffer from insomnia of any kind, the chances... Read More
An excellent stress reducer can be something as simple as... Read More
Everyone knows that stress isn't good - that it can... Read More
This anger management Practice draws on the dual wisdom of... Read More
Is your in-tray or inbox full? I don't normally check... Read More
When Army leaders fail to control battlefield stress, they lose... Read More
Here's an amazing quote from Time magazine:"At birth a baby's... Read More
It is no secret that stress and related disorders are... Read More
Rhodiola Rosea is the latest natural remedy to join the... Read More
Worry, big or small blocks positive vibrations from entering your... Read More
My first real job (schedule, time clock, paycheck, boss) was... Read More
If you've recently experienced loss or are going through a... Read More
For those who are suffering from stress, just about the... Read More
The World Health Organization calls stress "the health epidemic of... Read More
Rest.It's a good thing to do. As the story goes,... Read More
The Mask of "I've Got It All Together"It's so easy... Read More
Stress is the nastiest 4 letter word you ever met.... Read More
Whenever we think of 'stress', negative thoughts come into our... Read More
Governements and businesses have regularly highlighted the costs of stress... Read More
Seventy-five percent of all our problems ? both emotional and... Read More
Are you a "worry wart?" Is that term familiar to... Read More
I'm sure you have heard of IBS, irritable bowel syndrome,... Read More
There are two types of anxiety:*Situational *Existential.Most of us experience... Read More
Did you know that more than half of our adult... Read More
Get at least 15 minutes of sunshine daily.Daily Exercise -... Read More
Stress and anxiety can prematurely age our mind and body.... Read More
Imagine driving down the road. You are driving with a... Read More
So, you've recognised that you are suffering from stress and... Read More
Many people go through the motions during Christmas. If not... Read More
We are currently living in a capitalist society where money... Read More
Get at least 15 minutes of sunshine daily.Daily Exercise -... Read More
Punch a pillowScream into a pillowTurn on your favorite music... Read More
There are times in every person's life when things do... Read More
CHICAGO - According to a recent article in the September... Read More
Who hasn't experienced "worry" at one time or another? Almost... Read More
Success in recovery, or rather, staying in recovery, is dependent... Read More
Often, in today's fast paced world, we forget to take... Read More
Seventy-five percent of all our problems ? both emotional and... Read More
Q: "My career, though very very stressful, is one that... Read More
If you're like most people, you have your bouts of... Read More
Work related tensions, personal issues and abnormal lifestyles are the... Read More
In these times when companies are constantly down-sizing and right-sizing... Read More
You probably think I'm wacko, but it's true - stress... Read More
Do you attack problems and solve them or do you... Read More
I hope by reading this article you will see the... Read More
There are many kinds of daily grinds. In the U.S.... Read More
"Learn how to turn frustration into fascination. You will learn... Read More
Q. I wonder if you could help me with a... Read More
What is the greatest fear of man? Is it death?... Read More
We all know what it feels like to have our... Read More
If there was a way of relaxing quickly and easily... Read More
First, let's make a distinction between pressure and stress. We... Read More
I have yet to see a scientist talk about the... Read More
Among the hardest parts of living in the modern world... Read More
Have you ever noticed how we keep falling into the... Read More
There may be so much you want to change in... Read More
Workers across America will tell you that stresslevels are increasing.... Read More
When was the last time you took a day just... Read More
Governements and businesses have regularly highlighted the costs of stress... Read More
My son was watching a Richard Scarry video this morning... Read More
Stress Management |