Discusses stress in the workplace, and some things that can be done to alleviate it.
Stress in the workplace
More work and less time to do it in, combined with poor communication and lack of job security are some of the major contributors to stress and violent outbursts in the workplace. A TMP Worldwide survey of 6,000 employees found that 16 per cent of respondents work in an office where frequent yelling and verbal abuse occurs and one in 10 employees claim to have been the victim of violence in the workplace. The relationship between work and mental health is complex and can have a significant effect on non-work related areas of a person’s life, said Neil Wildman, project officer at the Mental Health Council of Australia. "Stressful events in the workplace may trigger a mental health problem or disorder. Conversely, maintaining or returning to work can assist in recovery from an episode or mental disorder." "Workplace experiences which can have a negative impact on our mental health include harassment from co-workers, supervisors or managers, failure to get an expected promotion or bonus, excessive demands for performance, excessive hours and lack of autonomy or job security," said Wildman. Other factors contributing to workplace stress include open plan offices. Although intended to improve team building and communication, an open plan office could contribute to workplace stress because employees are exposed to each other with more proximity and distraction, and less privacy. This may cause people to feel like they know their colleagues more than they do and relax their behaviour to a level not appropriate for the workplace.
How to help your employees stress less
Strategies to ease the stress in a workplace can vary from focusing on more effective communication between employers and employees, to sharing information about company objectives and providing an opportunity for employee feedback, said Wildman. Lisa Donohoe, HR manager at TMP Australia said that a code of behaviour could be established in a company and communicated to employers, and surveys be given to employees to help identify the ‘high stress’ areas of the workplace. It is also important to address any conflict issues within the workplace immediately. By offering time management courses, employers can help employees manage their workload with minimal stress. Not only does a low stress working environment create greater job satisfaction and better productivity. Donohue also said that employers simply have a duty of care to try to identify employees suffering from stress, and to act upon it.
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