Workplace stress has become one of the most significant challenges for modern organisations. According to the World Health Organisation, poor working environments—such as excessive workloads, low job control, and job insecurity- pose serious risks to mental health. Globally, depression and anxiety cost businesses 12 billion working days annually, equating to US$1 trillion in lost productivity.
For employers, this highlights the urgent need to address stress-related illnesses. ABILITY GROUP, specialists in workers’ compensation, health, and safety, provides tailored strategies to help organizations reduce stress and protect employee wellbeing.
Causes of Workplace Stress
Stress can arise from both internal work pressures and external personal factors. Common workplace triggers include:
- Heavy workloads and tight deadlines
- Conflicting priorities and unclear expectations
- Customer demands and high-pressure environments
- Job insecurity or lack of control
- Poor communication and limited support
In today’s social media and highly connected society, people are facing an increased variety of personal and professional pressures. Dealing constantly with deadlines, conflicting priorities, customer needs, appointments, etc., can become stressful for some. An active approach to workplace stress management is a win/win for all involved.
Reducing workplace stress-related illness, at ABILITY GROUP, we believe businesses should actively take steps to reduce workplace stress. There are numerous ways to achieve this goal.
Impact of Stress-Related Illnesses
- Physical health risks: fatigue, headaches, cardiovascular issues.
- Mental health challenges: anxiety, depression, burnout.
- Organizational costs: absenteeism, presenteeism, reduced productivity, and higher workers’ compensation claims.
- Workplace culture: low morale, disengagement, and higher turnover rates.
Free and affordable steps that the majority of businesses can implement quickly:
- Promote Awareness – Check with your workers to make sure they feel comfortable with their priorities. When possible, consider if duties/tasks can be shuffled or re-assigned to reduce stress
- Regular Breaks – It’s important to take a little time to decompress and simply breathe. Encourage workers to take their meal breaks. Walking around the building or going out for lunch can do wonders in reducing stress levels by helping workers relax
- Exercise and Nutrition– Encourage your workers to invest in their health via healthy eating and committing to regular exercise
- Laugh – Often, business is conducted in a professional and somewhat serious manner. Laughing helps lighten everyone’s mood and relax.
- Express Feelings – One of the best ways to deal with stress is by talking about concerns. Meet with your workers regularly, review work-loads and address any questions the workers may have. Keep an “open-door policy” for questions your workers may not feel comfortable discussing in front of others
- De-stress Tips – Change the induction processes for new workers to include in the De-stress Tips. A workplace environment that actively promotes and encourages stress prevention will
Need help reducing stress in your workplace? Contact us for specialist advice and support.
Source: Victorian Government
Title: Reducing Stress in the workplace – An evidence review: summary report
Read time: 15+ minutes