Stress in the Workplace

Stress in the Workplace

Having a bad day at work?

You are not the only one.

The cost of stress in the work place is astronomical for workers and the companies for whom they work. Many of these costs would be better spent on development of programs and training that would increase focus, productivity and creativity going straight to the bottom line while enhancing employee satisfaction, well-being and retention. Bottom line increases are good for shareholder well-being and satisfaction too. Let’s look at some of the numbers.

The World Health Organization says stress costs American business as much as $300 billion per year. Much of this is seen in higher health care costs and missed days a result of workplace stress.

The Centers for Disease Control defines workplace stress as the harmful physical and emotional responses that occur when the requirements of the job do not match the capabilities, resources or needs of the employee.

Business Insider had an interesting info-graph developed by Eastern Kentucky University called, “BURNT! Stress at the Workplace and How it is Reshaping America.” In a survey of 26,000 US workers, they state in this report, “the nature and demands of the workplace have evolved significantly over the last 50 years. Perhaps now more than ever, work-related stress poses a recognizable threat to the health of workers.”

The Eastern Kentucky University goes on to document that:

• 40% of workers report their jobs are very or extremely stressful
• 26% report they are often or very often burned out or stressed by their work;
• 29% report they are quite a bit or extremely stressed at work;
• 25% of employees view their jobs as the #1 stressor in their lives;
• 73% regularly experience psychological symptoms caused by stress;
• 77% regularly encounter physical symptoms caused by stress;
• 54% said stress caused them to fight with people close to them; and
• 60% of US workers surveyed said they would prefer to choose a new career altogether. (If you look at the first 3 bullet points, 40 + 26 + 29 that = 95% of the workforce is STRESSED!)

A little bit of stress is not a bad thing, but that is not what we are talking about here, this is extreme stress.

The Eastern Kentucky University goes further with the leading causes of stress in the workplace:

• 46% workload;
• 28% people issues;
• 20% juggling work and personal life; and
• 6% lack of job security.

The human and capital cost of stress reaches the economy and the public health sector:

• 52% of US workers admit to calling in sick due to stress:
• 42% of employees have changed jobs due to stress:
• 48% reported lying awake at night due to stress:
• 60%-80% of on-the-job accidents are due to stress related distractions or sleepiness.

Respondents report increased physical symptoms of stress including:

• 51% fatigue;
• 44% headache;
• 34% upset stomach;
• 30% muscle tension;
• 23% change in appetite;
• 17% teeth grinding;
• 15% Change in sex drive
• 13% Feeling Dizzy

Psychological symptoms of stress included:

• 50% irritability and anger;
• 45% feeling nervous;
• 45% lack energy; and
• 35% want to cry.

Economically: workers who report that they are stressed incur health care costs that are 46% higher for non-stressed employees; employees coming to work yet not functioning up to their capabilities costs $150 billion a year; and absenteeism is to blame for 26% of health-related lost productivity.

The challenge becomes, how do we build and support resilience in our colleagues? Build temawork? In my next blog, I will reveal what some forward thinking companies are doing with Meditation and Mindfulness in the Workplace to retain staff, thus reducing turnover and the costs related to it.

If you would like guidance to manage stress in the workplace, call Pat at 305.606.2050, she a a Registered Nurse, Certified Meditation Specialist and Reiki Master, together you can work on a plan to create calm and balance.

Thanks to Ahmad Gunnaivi for his photograph!