How to help your employees manage stress

There is no denying that stress is a determent to health. This is especially true for employees who may be working in high stress environments. Employers who are interested in promoting the health of their employees need to also be aware of what stress could be doing to their employees. If you are a business owner and are not aware of what stress could be doing to your employees keep in mind that recent studies show that 65% of all visits to primary care doctors are directly related to stress. This health problem is not only detrimental to the health of your employees but could be affecting the productivity of your business. This makes it crucial that employers do everything they can to help their employees reduce the stress in their lives. Here is what you need to know about how to help your employees manage stress-

- Provide options for scheduling-One of the biggest stresses for employees is having to adhere to a strict schedule. Employers are finding that for most jobs they can vary the schedule of their workers without a reduction in productivity. Many workers also struggle with trying to get all of their work done in the hours that they are allotted. Studies have shown that if you can give your employees more flexibility in the hours that they work they not only feel less stress but are more productivity as a result. This also helps since it allows your employees to have more flexibility in how they arrange their personal life for things such as child care and other work/life needs.
- Provide stress relieving measures-There are many simple stress relieving measures that you can implement at work that can help your employees better manage their stress. Providing your employees with healthy snacks and drinks can provide them with the nutrition they need to feel and act healthier. It can also be helpful to provide a comfortable break room with magazines, DVD's and CD players. Many employers are even putting gaming systems into their break rooms in order to give their employees a chance to work off stress during their breaks. It can also be helpful to provide your employees with the correct ergonomics such as exercise balls, stress balls and other devices that can help them to relieve stress as they work.
- Provide variety in work assignments-Much of the stress that employees have comes from doing the same work day after day. If you can vary the work assignments of your employees they can feel challenged and invigorated as they try new things. Many times offering employees a new challenge can relieve them of the stress they currently feel. Keep in touch with your employees and have an open line of communication in order to determine how much stress your employees are under. You may also want to give assignments that can be worked on from home and allow some telecommuting as a way to manage stress.
- Provide options for fitness-Getting your employees up and moving can be a great way to help them manage stress. The ideal solution is to have an onsite gym that will allow them to work out when they can. However, if that is not possible providing biking or walking paths, filling a conference room with weights and exercise bikes, or just providing ways that your employees can get up and move around can all go a long way toward helping them better manage their stress. Many employers are offering cardio dance classes or other group activities that not only help to manage stress but promote better teamwork between employees.