Support your stressed-out employees
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Everyone gets stressed — it’s inevitable. Whether minor or extreme, everyone experiences stress at some point in their lifetime.
When we hear the word stress, we typically think of negative circumstances but that's not always the case, especially when it comes to the workplace. For example, stress at work can help you meet a tight deadline or avoid making a mistake.
Stress becomes detrimental to the health and well-being of your employees — and your company’s bottom line — when it is chronic and lasts for long periods of time.
Mental health resources to support stress at work
No matter how your employees are impacted by stress, Wellmark has tools and resources to help your employees get the support they need. Spread the word with flyers, articles and more from the mental health solutions toolkit on the Wellmark Marketing Toolkit.
The three types of stress
There are three primary types of stress, and each type of stress impacts your employees differently.
1.
Acute stress.
This is the most common type of stress people experience. It's the pressure of a challenging, new project or the energy associated with juggling multiple commitments in one day. Acute stress doesn’t normally do much harm. In fact, this kind of stress at work can help employees stay alert to important matters and create good habits for future workplace challenges.
2.
Episodic acute stress.
When someone experiences frequent periods of high stress, it is considered episodic acute stress. Some professions, such as health care, can lead to higher rates of episodic acute stress and can have a great impact on an employees' health and well-being.
3.
Chronic stress.
This is the stress that lingers for sustained time periods, like weeks or months. Chronic stress is the most damaging form of stress and can lead to serious effects on mental and physical health.
How stress affects your employees’ health
Each of your employees has unique coping mechanisms for whatever battles they are facing. Some of the common characteristics you may see among seriously stressed-out employees include:
- Fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating and making decisions
- Irritability
- Creating conflict
- Frequent sickness
- Chronic aches and pains
- Overcommitting and procrastination
- Uncertainty and directionless
- Weight gain or loss
Infographic listing common signs of workplace stress, including fatigue, irritability, frequent sickness, chronic aches and pains, difficulty concentrating and making decisions, overcommitting, procrastination, creating conflict, uncertainty, and changes in weight.
Stress impacts the workplace
A small amount of stress at work can motivate employees to accomplish their tasks and goals on time. But, when high levels of stress continue for a long period of time, it can be damaging to employee health. Chronic stress can lead to mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety, as well as physical problems like high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and a weakened immune system.
These health complications, coupled with the pressure of work stress, could lead to more frequent absences. One survey showed that approximately one million employees are absent from work each day due to stress, resulting in a loss of $183 billion per year due to decreased employee productivity.
According to the National Institutes of Health, higher workplace stress levels are significantly associated with lower employee productivity.
How to support your stressed-out employees
Whether an employee is struggling with personal issues at home, being asked to work beyond their skill set with unrealistic expectations, or feeling uncertain about their future, there are ways to help them cope with chronic stress.
Check out these tips to support and ease stress among your employees.
1.
Reduce the stigma.
Provide a safe space for your employees to share their concerns, worries and feelings. Foster a culture that allows employees to feel comfortable speaking to their leaders and peers about the stressors they are facing. Normalize seeking out counseling or mental health support. And, consider bringing in a mental health coach, or encouraging your employees to take mental health days.
2.
Help your employees know they're not alone.
It can be hard to talk about mental health, but virtual visits make it easier. Many mental health care providers offer virtual care options, making it possible for your employees to get support from anywhere and when it works best for them. Download the mental health and virtual visits flyer and share it with your employees so they know help is always available.
3.
Recognition, reward and kindness.
Take time to notice when an employee is putting in a lot of work during a busy time, or taking on extra work. Recognize, reward and appreciate them for their hard work. When you show employees you care, it can help them feel valued and increases the likelihood that they will stay with the company during tough times. Over time, you will see lower turnover rates in your business.
4.
Lighten the load.
There are only so many hours in a day for your employees to get everything done. Make sure you are evenly distributing work and communicating about employee workload. Open and clear communication about projects and tasks will help everyone understand and appreciate each other's work. Take time to check in to see if your employees are struggling with their projects or if you can offer support. You can also encourage employees to take breaks throughout the day to move, eat, rest or run small errands. Mental breaks lead to greater productivity and creativity.
Questions? We can help.
You want what's best for the health and well-being of your employees. By checking in, communicating and providing resources to cope, you are fostering a healthy and productive environment where people can thrive under the right amount of pressure.
Questions? Contact your authorized Wellmark account representative, or email us at blueatwork@wellmark.com.
Disclaimers
Doctor On Demand by Included Health is a separate company providing an online telehealth solution for Wellmark members. Doctor On Demand® is a registered mark of Included Health, Inc.
For plans that include benefits for mental health treatment, Doctor On Demand benefits may include treatment for certain psychological conditions, emotional issues and substance use disorder. Services performed by Doctor On Demand clinicians are covered. For more information, call Wellmark at the number on your ID card or call Wellmark Customer Service.