The Effects of Workplace Stress on Productivity

Employee health and morale are often interrelated when it comes to productivity in the workplace. Unhealthy, ill, stressed employees will miss more days of work than their healthy counterparts, which can have a negative affect on morale and overall workplace performance.

Many factors contribute to poor employee performance, including stress and a lack of communication. While business owners and corporate managers can find ways to boost worker morale, employees should also take some measures to discover methods of stress relief. Some professional environments are naturally stressful; it is particularly important for employees in these environments understand how to understand and manage stress.

Causes for Employee Absenteeism

In any workplace, consistent employee absenteeism can be a potential problem. Consistent absenteeism can be a result of a combination of many factors:
  • Lack of incentives, including employee insurance and performance bonuses or recognition, can cause employees to become apathetic and lose motivation.

  • No performance or attendance policies means that employees don't have to take responsibility for their own actions, including absenteeism and productivity.

  • Unproductive working conditions can arise from any number of factors, including workers who are negative or disruptive. Unproductive working conditions can also result from a failure to equip employees with the right tools, training, software and supplies.
Any of these may lead to stress and a noticeable slowdown in productivity, which affects a company's bottom line.

Stress in the Workplace

Stress tops the list of employee complaints and is a major cause of many attendant health issues. It's proven that a high-stress environment, whether personal or work-related, creates significant health risks. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is one such problem and may increase the incidence of heart attacks.

Stress in the workplace is a leading cause of employee health issues and absenteeism. This can arise for any number of reasons, including a too-rigid or too-lax work environment. Worries about job security are on the rise in today's volatile market, which may be another cause of employee stress.
 
Stress Statistics
Our immune systems are affected by the strains of stress. Over time, stress can significantly weaken our immune systems, making us more susceptible to common colds and viruses. Some statisticians estimate that as many as 80 percent of illnesses are stress-related.
 
Overall, recent statistics show absenteeism rates average 3 percent across all reporting industries and professions. While three percent may seem an insignificant number, it does not reflect the residual loss of performance, production or the financial impact on businesses.

Employee Stress Reduction and Tips for Boosting Morale

Several on-the-job techniques may aid in stress reduction and help boost employee morale. While it's important for employees to develop stress management and coping skills, there are several things that managers and business owners can do to help employees decrease their stress levels:
  • Adopt reinforcement techniques that will reward workers who excel.
  • Encourage feedback, especially when faced with new projects or when rolling out new products.
  • Explore health-related options, including a wellness program and insurance incentives.
  • Incorporate an outside facilitator or coach into the employee program. Personnel are more willing to provide input to an outside source, and supervisors will gain from receiving anonymous feedback.
  • Understand limitations. Expecting too much in a limited amount of time produces stress and decreases the quality of employee output.
Employers and employees should keep in mind that some level of stress or pressure is beneficial to reaching project completion. In moderation, stress creates the motivation to perform and be proud of the results. Be wise, however, about what leads to detrimental stress, including unrealistic goals and impossible expectations.

How to Improve Employee Absenteeism

In any given workplace, several factors can lead to low morale and employee absenteeism. Each requires a focused approach in rebuilding a productive work environment.
  • Poor or ineffective management is one of the major causes of poor morale and stress. Resentment contributes heavily to employee absenteeism. It's imperative that business leaders understand managers’ impact on productivity and act to better their management team. An employer who understands that support comes from respect will discover ways to implement specialized programs for problem managers.

  • Rumor mongering and gossip play a huge role in employee productivity. These may be directed toward specific employees or may be widespread regarding an issue of concern, such as a company's financial stability. One negative influence can destroy an entire department.

    Team building is a proven technique that helps employees to learn to rely on each other and view themselves as working together for the same cause. With the right facilitator, workers can gain respect for each other based on skills rather than personalities.

  • The level of company benefits also provides a boost in morale. Employee insurance is not only beneficial for finding good workers, it's often critical to keeping them. Incentives, such as dental insurance and savings programs, can keep everyone motivated.

While implementing training and incentive programs for both managers and employees can be time-consuming, it can also reduce employee stress and help create a motivated, unified workforce. The key is to provide ongoing follow-up and allow for feedback from everyone involved. When policy changes are implemented, employees require some time to adjust, even if the changes are beneficial.

Resources

Burgis, Neil B., Ph.D. (2003-2008). Boosting employee morale increases productivity. Retrieved March 27, 2008, from the Business Performance Pty. Ltd. Web site: http://www.
businessperform.com/articles/boosting_employee_morale.html.

Goer.state.ny.us (2003). Performance problems. Retrieved March 27, 2008, from the New York State Governor's Office of Employee Relations Web site: http://www.goer.state.ny.us/
train/onlinelearning/EC/303.4.html.

Humannatureatwork.com (2002-2008). How to maximize employee performance while minimizing employee stress. Retrieved March 27, 2008, from the HumanNature@Work Web site: http://humannatureatwork.com/Workplace-Stress-4.htm.