In 2019, 83% of U.S. workers were reported to suffer from work-related stress. At the same time, they see the value of health and wellness perks, and 73% of workers say they are directly influenced by these when choosing a job. There is much at HR and other leaders can do to address employee stress:
- Build realistic, customized programs. Pay attention to what is sustainable, positive, and low pressure. Remember that you won’t be able to eliminate all stress, but you can minimize it and give workers the tools and skills they need to live a low-stress work life.
- Promote downtime. Breaks can be very effective for both managers and their teams. Encourage and enable your teams to build routines with healthful, productive downtime. Coffee breaks, a few minutes of walking or stretching, and 15 minutes in a quiet room can be tremendously refreshing and revitalizing.
- Provide tools and training. Make sure you have mental health benefits designed to combat stress. Give employees tools—via publications/videos, workshops, and lunch-and-learns—to help them manage stress and maintain a work-life balance.
