WINNEMUCCA - Google is probably the most famous example of a company that helps its employees fight workplace stress.
Google's employee benefits include on site gyms, game rooms, hair salons, laundromats, and the opportunity to eat breakfast, lunch, dinner, and as many snacks as the employee wants free of charge.
Most companies do not have the financial resources or the space to duplicate these measures, but there are steps employers can take to minimize workplace stress and increase productivity and job satisfaction in any size workplace.
Angela Bruch, Ph.D is a member of the core faculty in the Industrial/Organizational Psychology Department at Capella University, an online school with Winnemucca students and alumni.
Dr. Bruch noted that workplace stress is not always a bad thing.
"Stress is not always a negative experience," she said. "Some stress can be an important motivator and can lead to an increase in effort on the job. However, too much stress and/or the wrong type of stress can have a negative impact on performance."
Bruch explained that excessive or unhealthy stress often arises from behaviors that used to be considered standard management practices but are now known to decrease employee productivity.
"These typically include methods that are negative or punitive in nature," she said. ""Yelling at or demeaning an employee who does not meet expectations has not been shown to improve productivity. Another common method used by employers to increase performance is fear;the fear of being laid off or of being fired, for example. That type of motivation is also counterproductive and does not lead to an increase in productivity."
This does not mean employees will be too stressed out if they are criticized, or that everyone should be allowed to do anything they feel like doing all day at work.
"Develop open and collegial communication with employees in which goals and needs for the organization are explained and transparent," Bruch advised. "Allow employees to voice concerns and ask questions and engage in problem solving in contributing to creative ideas for the organization as well as toward their own performance enhancement."
Dawn Scheetz is a psychiatric RN, BSN with the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health. She offered some small steps employers could take to decrease employee stress.
Scheetz advised employers and managers to begin by making breaks a regular part of the workday.
"This can be as simple as encouraging/enforcing 10 minute breaks in the morning and afternoon and taking lunch outside of the work environment," Scheetz said. "Studies have shown that a slow walk for five minutes can reduce blood pressure. Also, changing one's environment, even for a short period of time, can decrease perceived stress, increase concentration and increase problem solving skills."
Small town businesses may not be able to afford their own gym, but Scheetz noted that employers can still help their workers stay healthy by promoting the use of community wellness resources.
"Supplying or identifying walking routes, identifying community wellness programs, or encouraging competitive self care through challenges can all spark interest in and the development of wellness practices in employees," she said.
Scheetz further suggested implementing smaller versions of some of Google's famous stress fighting perks.
"Work environment directly impacts performance and stress levels and providing some inexpensive supports can improve both of these employee conditions," she explained. "Nominal supports can include a refrigerator for employees to keep their food and drinks fresh and cold, supplying or offering low cost water or other beverages, or an area, out of the work stream, to have breaks and lunch."
Scheetz recommended tailoring these benefits to the needs of each workplace, adding that decreasing worker's stress benefits the company by increasing productivity.
"Ask your employees what supports, within reason, would best benefit them, thereby decreasing their stress and improving performance," she suggested.
Bruch echoed Scheetz in reminding employers that taking measures to decrease worker stress results in benefits for the business itself.
"These types of interventions help to improve effective performance by increasing motivation and allowing employees to function at their best," she said. "Employees who are healthy will not only want to perform well at work, but they will feel well both physically and psychologically. They will be more committed to the job if they feel the organization is concerned with their well being. If they feel they are a part of the organization in terms of contributing and communication, they will take responsibility and ownership for what happens. As a result, the overall performance is impacted in a positive way."
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