Workplace stress can result from several different situations. Short deadlines, upset customers, lack of bandwidth, long meetings and endless work can all lead to workplace stress. Employees respond differently to workplace stress depending on their personalities and the workplace culture.1
Workplace stress
Stress in the workplace can have both short- and long-term effects.2
Short-term effects include:
- Anxiety
- Shallow breathing
- Trouble sleeping
- Headaches
- Upset stomach
Long-term effects include:
- Weakened immune system
- Muscle aches
- Depression
- Back pain
- Heart disease
Additionally, stress can lead to mistakes due to lack of concentration and focus. It can affect an employee’s emotions, making them grouchy, less patient and less excited about their job.3 Employee burnout is also associated with workplace stress. Employees can become negative, develop cynicism regarding projects and ultimately become less effective or overwhelmed.4
Strategies for managing stress in the workplace
It’s important to try to prevent workplace stress before it has long-term effects. Try the following strategies for managing stress in the workplace:
- Encourage your team to take regular breaks and use their vacation time.
- Provide and encourage your team to participate in meditation classes; set an example by participating yourself.5
- Recommend that your team plan their days in advance with realistic goals and tasks to stay organized. Let them know that they don’t need to try to cram all of their work into 1 day if it can be stretched out over the week. Encourage them to set priorities.
- Make sure your team understands the importance of getting more sleep. Sleep deprivation increases anxiety and stress and affects mood and ability to stay focused on work.6
- Urge your team to take advantage of employee resources. Many employers offer employee assistance programs as part of their benefit packages, which include mental wellness and mental health support.
- Encourage your team to try breathing exercises and focus on taking slow, deep breaths.
To manage workplace stress, Go365® members can access Unwinding Anxiety® and MyLife™ meditation apps. When they connect to the Go365 App, members can earn Points through daily wellness check-ins and personalized activities to support relaxation and mindfulness.
Humana’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Work-Life Services offer completely confidential support for stress management. Members have easy access to trained professionals to discuss work-life balance, emotional issues, relationship and addiction concerns, plus other daily needs and life events.
For more information like this, contact your Humana sales rep or request more information about Go365’s wellness program by filling out this formOpens in new window.
Go365 is not an insurance product and is not available with all Humana health plans. This is a general description of services which are subject to change. Product features may vary by client. Please refer to Customer Support for more information.
From time to time, Go365 may make available items and services from third-party vendors. While some services are provided at no additional cost to you, if you choose to use certain items and services, you may incur additional fees that are not covered by your wellness program. Similar items or services may be available at no or reduced cost under Go365 or health coverage, if available. You should consult your Go365 program or health coverage documents for more information. Third-party vendors may provide compensation to Humana. Humana does not endorse the items or services provided by third-party vendors.
These non-insurance services are provided by Humana EAP and Work-Life Services. Personal information about participants remains confidential according to all applicable state and federal laws, unless disclosure is required by such laws.
Sources:
- L. Renee Watson, Marianne Fraser MSN, RM, Paul Ballas MD, “Managing Work-Related Stress,” University of Rochester Medical Center, last accessed June 9, 2021, https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=1&contentid=2882Opens in new window.
- “Managing Work-Related Stress.”
- “Managing Work-Related Stress.”
- Cameron Jacox, “Executives Need to Get Serious About Burnout,” Forbes Business Council, last accessed June 9, 2021, https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2021/06/07/executives-need-to-get-serious-about-burnout/?sh=4f7372556c2fOpens in new window.
- Dana Wiklie, “What Managers Can do to Ease Workplace Stress,” SHRM, last accessed June 9, 2021, https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/employee-relations/pages/how-managers-can-help-stressed-workers-.aspxOpens in new window.
- Shawn Singh, “How to Manage Anxiety in the Workplace,” business.com, last accessed June 9, 2021, https://www.business.com/articles/how-to-manage-anxiety-in-the-workplace/Opens in new window.
Go365 is not an insurance product and is not available with all Humana health plans. This is a general description of services which are subject to change. Please refer to Customer Support for more information.