CHRONIC STRESS: Preventive measures

Important preventive measures management can instill in an organization to reduce chronic stress.

      Improve communication.

Bad communication is one of the most frequently cited major causes of stress.  Bad communication can be reflected in many ways in the workplace.  Lack of feedback, unclear job responsibilities, or even just the difficulty of trying to physically contact someone within the organization are some of the examples of poor communication.

Many communication problems can be solved early on if addressed during the initial stages.

      Appropriate workload.

Understaffing is another concern often expressed by employees.  Studies have shown that heavy workloads can result in diminishing worker satisfaction, burnout and physical illness.

This has a snowball effect.  As efficiency decreases and staff turnover increases, other employees’ workloads grow as they have to carry the extra burden of picking up the slack.  It is therefore crucial that management reviews the level of staffing in the business and identifies ways to deal with under-staffing.

SHARED FROM:

Jolynn Carr, Becky Kelley, Rhett Keaton, Chad Albrecht, (2011),"Getting to grips with stress in the workplace: Strategies for promoting a healthier, more productive environment", Human Resource Management International Digest, Vol. 19 Iss: 4 pp. 32 - 38