Companies Losing Top-Level Executives to Workplace Stress

Workplace stress is a growing epidemic that is leading to more and more companies losing some of their best employees and their best executives. Not only that, it is costing Australia, and employers all over the country billions of dollars yearly. In 2008, studies showed that the workplace stress-related problems cost employers in Australia $10.11 Billion, while at the same time costing the country’s economy $14.81 Billion. And these numbers only seem to be getting bigger with each passing year

(PRWEB) December 17, 2011

What causes workplace stress?

Work-related stress happens when employees, workers, and professionals are faced with challenges or demands that they are either not prepared to face or not equipped to face. This can be representative of a variety of different factors and potential stressors. Depending on the person, their position in the company, the location of in which they work, and the industry in which they work, these stressors can be one of hundreds of potential stressors.

Some of the stressors that have been known to cause workplace stress are: (1) Long or unreasonable working hours; (2) Unstable workplace; (3) Lack of proper leadership; (4) Unreasonable demands; (5) Lack of advancement or promotion opportunities; (6) Harassment, whether sexual or non-sexual, from co-workers; (7) Work environment not conducive to productivity and creativity, etc. The list goes on and on.

There are certain industries that have been known to have more employees suffering from workplace stress, in particular, emergency services professionals. However, generally speaking, the more responsibility a particular employee has, the higher the potential for workplace stress. Thus, top-level executives who are expected to deliver better results and shoulder more responsibility over a large number of employees tend to suffer more from workplace stress.

What are the negative affects of workplace stress on employees?

Workplace stress can lead to absenteeism due to illnesses. Stress, although more emotional in nature, can lead to lower resistances to common illnesses, which in turn lead to employees taking more sick days. Stress can also manifest into physical symptoms that lead to increased absenteeism.

Workplace stress can also lead to “presenteeism.” This refers to lower productivity and efficiency in the workplace due to workplace stress. Workers or employees come to the office but instead of being able to tackle their workload and produce the desired results, their productivity decreases dramatically due to illness, as well as other factors.

What can employers do to combat workplace stress?

More and more employers are investing money into combatting workplace stress. And there are also several companies that have emerged to provide services that will fulfill this need. Some have chosen to combat stress with something that we normally see in salons and spas: massages. Massages for employees that take place in the office have been known to lower stress levels and improve productivity. It also improves job satisfaction in employees. On the other hand, professionals in high-stress environments can choose to undergo therapy and counseling fully subsidized by their employers. This allows them to cope better with the challenges inherent in their profession and improves overall productivity and employee retention.

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