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- Workplace Health & Safety
Michelle Ann Zoleta, Health & Safety Team Manager
(Last updated )
Michelle Ann Zoleta, Health & Safety Team Manager
(Last updated )
Job stress is a hazard that quietly chips away at the health and productivity of your employees. Chronic stress may lead to absenteeism, poor performance, conflict, mental health concerns, and high employee turnover. Clearly, it is bad for your business.
And it is a threat that is easy to miss.
Some amount of stress is part of daily life. It can be a positive influence when it motivates an individual to put in their best. For instance, the stress associated with a big project deadline or when planning a vacation. But excessive stress over a long period is damaging.
Severe stress raises the risk of mental health problems like depression and anxiety, besides causing sleep issues. It may also cause many physical problems, such as frequent headaches, muscle tension, high BP, cardiovascular disease, and a weak immune system.
According to a survey, 1 in 3 Canadians cited job-related stress as the main cause of their mental health problem.
But as an employer, how do you tell when an employee is struggling with chronic stress?
Some common symptoms of excessive stress include emotional outbursts, low productivity, anger, irritability, social withdrawal, restlessness.
However, not all symptoms (such as mental or physical ones) may be easily noticed by co-workers or managers. Such symptoms include change in sleep patterns, weight loss or gain, forgetfulness, feelings of sadness, low energy, headaches, fatigue, muscle tension, etc.
This is why it is important that you educate your employees on the importance of mental health and the long-term effects of poorly managed stress.
The stressors may vary depending on the nature of the job, the company culture and individual temperament. But some common reasons for job stress are:
It is important to figure out the source of the stress to be able to take appropriate corrective measures. Employers should strive to provide a healthy work environment where all employees are able to achieve a work-life balance.
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