Reducing stress in the office

PILES of untouched reports are strewn across your desk. Your deadline is drawing nearer and, as each hour passes, your anxiety and stress levels rise.

The universal feeling of being swamped with work afflicts even the most organised worker but, as offices become more streamlined and bosses adopt tougher cost-cutting measures, employees are becoming increasingly overworked.

The pressure has become so great workers are not only making themselves sick, but are costing their employers millions of dollars in lost productivity.

Research by recruitment firm PKL found work-related stress is costing Australian companies $200 million each year in compensation claims.

And according to the National Health and Safety Commission, stress accounts for the longest stretches of absenteeism.

Causes of stress

The findings show that while unrealistic job demands were the major cause for stress, constant change in the workplace, tight deadlines and staff conflict were also affecting productivity.

Roxanne Calder, a director of PKL, says companies that fail to address the issue will be severely affected in the long run.

She believes work-related stress not only causes an increase in the number of sick days taken by employees, but can also lead to a higher turnover of staff and a drop in workplace productivity.

Ms Calder says now many companies already offer facilities such as specialised office seating, desks and lighting, food and beverage services, as well as de-stress rooms, bosses should ensure staff now enjoy a stress-free work environment.

"With the availability of skilled workers and unemployment levels at an all-time low, Australian companies are being forced to realise the importance of looking after, and retaining staff," she said.

"Making sure staff are properly trained for their job, discussing issues and grievances with them and encouraging an environment where employees have more say over their duties, promotional prospects and safety, are all necessary steps to avoid the pitfalls of a stressful workplace," she says.

Identify stress in staff

Campbell Sallabank, CEO of recruitment site linkme.com.au, says it is extremely important to learn how to identify stress in its early stages.

He believes the onus should be on bosses to notice any high levels of sick leave or signs of disengagement and lack of interest from staff.

"It is important for managers to understand their employees' personal situations and to ensure there is a proper fit between their personal lives and their work lives," he says.

"Bosses can manage their staff by ensuring they communicate openly with them and ask them directly how they are going.

"There's a big difference between sitting at your desk and assuming how your staff are going, and actually walking around the office and engaging with staff as real people."