Is Your Office Too Stressful?:

One of the most common causes of frequent illness is too much stress. In the United States, it can be almost impossible to completely avoid stress, especially in the work place. As an employer, what steps can you take to make sure that you are not contributing to the stress of your employees?

There are several warning signs to look for when you are trying to determine if your office is indeed too stressful. By taking the time to evaluate what is going on in the undercurrents of your office, you can start taking steps towards making your employees not only happier, but healthier.

Warning Sign Number One - Frequent Turn Over

If you can't keep the same employees for more than two months, this is a very good indicator that something is wrong. If your payscale is comparable to the competition and you are offering a benefits package, this is cause for even more concern. There may be something go on under your own nose that is causing your employees to leave. Make sure to evaluate the actions of your managerial staff as well as other employees to see if the problem is beginning with them. At the same time, don't be afraid to take a look at yourself to see if you are actually to blame.

Warning Sign Number Two - A Decline in Productivity

One of the worst problems facing small business is a lack of productivity. You may not be able to afford to hire as many workers as you need, leaving the rest of your employees to pick up the slack. Over time, this can actually result in a lack of overall performance as your existing employees begin to burn out. You will need to weigh the benefits of adding a new employee if it will help your existing employees perform their tasks more efficiently.

Warning Sign Number Three - Emotional Outbursts

When someone is under too much stress, they may reach their breaking point much more quickly than normal. If your employees are frequently bursting into tears or screaming at one another, this is a very serious sign that something is wrong in your environment.

So, what can you, as an employer do to help your employees? First, the most important thing to do is to monitor your office to watch for these warning signs. It can be easy to get tied up with your own work, but you should never forget your employees. If you are seeing signs of too much stress, there are several steps that you can take.

Offering counseling for your employees is a great way to help them alleviate their stress, and it is also a good idea to try to bring some scheduled fun into the workplace. It can be something as small as a surprise lunch for your employees to thank them for their hard work. A simple thank you can go a long way in dissolving pent up frustrations from too much stress.

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