Steps To Prevent Workplace Stress

Most employees believe workers have more on-the-job stress than a generation ago. Problems at work are more strongly associated with health complaints than are any other life stressor, and health care expenditures are nearly 50% greater for workers who report high levels of stress.

It's up to managers to keep stress among workers as low as possible. First, evaluate the stress level of your workplace or department. Then draw up workable solutions. Here are some suggestions on evaluating your own department's level of stress:

Hold group discussions. Meet with labor representatives and employees to gauge their perceptions about their jobs and the level of stress they experience.

Conduct a formal written survey, but make it anonymous. To eliminate any reticence that employees may feel in discussing the stress level of their environment, it may help to conduct written anonymous surveys that ask about employee perceptions of their job conditions, perceived levels of stress, health and satisfaction.

Gather and analyze empirical data. Examine objective indicators like absenteeism, illness, turnover rates and performance problems.