With almost 50% of workers complaining that their jobs are very stressful, it is no surprise that more than two-thirds of all medical problems are stress related.
Each day, workplace stress is credited with more than a million absences and at least 40% of all personnel turnover. Studies show stress is a primary cause of accidents, quality control problems, medical claims, and lost productivity.
Some people debate the exact percentage of stress related costs in each catagory, but few can object to the raw data or the results you see as you take action to control stress and improve productivity throughout your company.
Here are some practical ways to benchmark current stress levels and monitor future conditions.
1. Absenteeism - Require strict reporting of absences for any reason. It isn't unusual for people to shade the truth to get a day off. Some research indicates that 54% of illnesses phoned in are actually for reasons other than medical. Compare your numbers with the same period last year. Chart how absences coincide with business cycles.
2. Presenteeism - Keep track of those who show up sick and risk spreading their illness. Maybe they've used up their "sick days" because of stress and can't afford to stay home when they really should. If people miss work when they are well or if they feel too stressed to miss work when they are sick, stress control strategies are essential.
3. Tardiness - Develop daily reports and weekly summaries. Are some departments worse than others? Are people arriving late because they dread workplace stress?
4. Medical claims - Seek generic information from your health insurance company on the number and expense of medical claims. Categorize information by type of ailment and observe how the frequency of visits compares to major corporate activities or stressful times of year. You might find that stressful periods coincide with or precede increased medical claims.
5. Complaints and grievances - Keep records by department. Those with a greater numbers of complaints are probably ready for some stress- control strategies. Each grievance can cost you untold hours or more productivity.
6. Accident reports - Analyze reports from the perspective of stress involvement. Research how stress might have been the root cause of accidents. It has been said stress related accidents cost nearly twice as much as other mishaps.
7. Errors in judgment or misstatements - Develop a log of individual errors in judgment and misstatements - clear stress indicators. If employees are prone to making misstatements, they are prone to errors in judgment. Monitor decision-making ability and evaluate the cost of these mistakes.
8. Personal relationships - Note changes in the way people relate to each other and the actions that cause some people to become more argumentative. You can use this information to control stress for the entire organization or for individuals who are more sensitive to stressful situations.
9. Customer service problems - Review problems from a stress perspective. Reducing stress can lower the number of errors in order taking, preparation, shipping, and invoicing and improve customer relations.
10. Quality problems - Include a description of stress-related activities occurring before and during the period of concern in your quality reports. Watch for trends among certain employees or departments. Look for causes of stress and what can be done to control the stress reactions.
Corporate leaders and managers sometimes erronously manage stressed people by using increased demands and closer supervision. Instead, you should use stress-reducing techniques to manage the stressors. Benchmarking will help you prioritize and allocate assets to stress control.
Good managers understand the importance of positive stress in maximizing accuracy and productivity. And they know how to control the negative stress for the benefit of those involved and the bottom line.
Outside consultants and trainers can help you evaluate current stress levels and train everyone involved. Remember, stress control is a leadership responsibility.
Get my article about the top ten workplace stressors by sending blank email to auto-responder 10stressors@couragebuilders.com
Dale Collie - professional speaker, former US Army Ranger, CEO, and a Fast Company top 50 innovative leader. Author of "Winning Under Fire." (McGraw-Hill) collie@couragebuilders.com
Rhodiola Rosea is the latest natural remedy to join the... Read More
David Bowie once sang, "Ch-ch-changes, tryin' to face the strain."And... Read More
A grandfather, whose grandson came to him angry at a... Read More
1. The Law of StagnationThis is also known as first... Read More
The Mask of "I've Got It All Together"It's so easy... Read More
A friend has this quotation on his office wall: "I... Read More
Tough leaders are usually seen as ogres. Their exacting demands... Read More
There are many kinds of daily grinds. In the U.S.... Read More
The fast pace of life is taking toll on every... Read More
Have you ever said the words, "This job/my life is... Read More
My work often deals with proactive, preventive means to Overcome... Read More
Q. I've been told that I need to learn from... Read More
Life would be so wonderful if it weren't for other... Read More
No this is not related to praying, this is how... Read More
Traffic jams. Toddler tantrums. Deadlines at work. Money troubles. Too... Read More
The main problem in a down economy is that workplaces... Read More
"We do not stop playing because we grow old. We... Read More
Often, in today's fast paced world, we forget to take... Read More
1. Determine your "unique ability" and capitalize on itDelegate the... Read More
Don't wait to have a life-threatening disease to learn what... Read More
Most people know of the importance of exercise as a... Read More
The fall season signals a shift in most people's minds.... Read More
Meditation seems to have arrived in the mainstream of late,... Read More
Recently the well known American news anchor Peter Jennings died... Read More
"Let your mind be quiet, realizing the beauty of the... Read More
First, let's make a distinction between pressure and stress. We... Read More
Many of my readers write to me about the tensions... Read More
There is one sure fire medicine that cures all difficulty... Read More
Several studies, including one of medical students around exam time,... Read More
Why Stress Management programmes don't work?It seems that every week... Read More
It is very true that, unfortunately, many people look to... Read More
Understanding StressStress has been called "the invisible disease". It is... Read More
One of the dumbest things I have ever done is... Read More
Are you looking for stress relief? No drugs, no meditation?... Read More
Stress is normal. Stress is OK. Stress is the same... Read More
Do you attack problems and solve them or do you... Read More
Stress, America's #1 health problem, is a leading cause of... Read More
Life can offer us many challenges having to do with... Read More
I am worried. I have been biting my nails for... Read More
We so often take the feelings of happiness and saddness... Read More
Feeling stressed out lately? Don't worry, there is a simple... Read More
One question that is not asked enough by people under... Read More
Q: We recently had someone come to our company to... Read More
One of the best ways to relieve yourself from the... Read More
There are many kinds of daily grinds. In the U.S.... Read More
With how busy we keep ourselves on a day to... Read More
Rest.It's a good thing to do. As the story goes,... Read More
There is one sure fire medicine that cures all difficulty... Read More
Where does stress really come from? Is there any simple... Read More
Raise your hand if you have ever been rejected by... Read More
More than two-thirds of visits to doctors' surgeries are for... Read More
On a beautiful summer day years ago, I went water... Read More
Life is funny.Throughout the day, there are plenty of humorous... Read More
Meditation seems to have arrived in the mainstream of late,... Read More
In his book, The 22 Non-Negotiable Laws of Wellness, author... Read More
Everyone worries. As bothersome as it is, worry isn't all... Read More
The main problem in a down economy is that workplaces... Read More
Panic.Heart racing. Palms sweating. Breathing rapid and shallow. Mouth dry.... Read More
I was a psychotherapist for... Read More
"Watch your language."We all heard this admonition as kids and... Read More
As small business owners, we often take on more than... Read More
Today's workplace produces plenty of stress. Life's little hassles mount... Read More
Stress, America's #1 health problem, is a leading cause of... Read More
Why Stress Management programmes don't work?It seems that every week... Read More
It is no secret that stress and related disorders are... Read More
Life would be so wonderful if it weren't for other... Read More
Stress Management |