Aon Hewitt Research Shows Employers Taking Steps To Assist Workers Scale Back Stress Within The Whole Workplace

Recent research from aon hewitt, the world talent, retirement and health solutions business of aon plc, shows work-related factors play a big role in employees’ stress levels. currently being a result, a growing variety of employers are taking steps to assist workers scale back their stress. but, aon hewitt’s research shows most programs aren't being utilized on their full advantage.

In keeping with aon hewitt’s 2013 consumer health mindset report, that surveyed more often 2, 800 workers as well as their dependents, nearly half same their stress level was high or overwhelming. when asked the reasons for the stress, the highest four out of every 5 reasons cited were work-related.

To assist mitigate employee stress levels, the amount of employers giving stress management programs has grown in recent years. aon hewitt’s recent health care survey of 800 massive and mid-size u. s. employers covering more often 7 million workers found that 35 p.c of employers offered stress reduction programs in 2013, up from 22 p.c in 2010. but, only 3 p.c of workers same they will participated inside an employer-sponsored stress management program in 2013. nearly one-fourth same they will failed to believe their employer offers any programs or services to trot out stress.

“Employees are increasingly feeling stressed by work-related pressures, and this may typically be destructive to health, productivity and performance, ” same kathleen mahieu, leader of behavioral health consulting at aon hewitt. “employers recognize the impact that high stress levels are having upon their workforces and are implementing programs to assist workers recognize stress, reframe it in additional positive ways and specialise in what they could management. unfortunately, most stress management programs within the whole workplace nowadays aren’t being implemented within the manner that’s effective. ”

The business impact of workplace stress has actually been well documented in numerous research reports :

Fifty-one p.c of workers same they will were less productive at work currently being a results of stress1.

Health care expenses were nearly 50 p.c higher for workers who reported high levels of stress2.

More often half the 550 million operating days lost every year owing to absenteeism were stress-related3.

“In our experience, it isn't unusual to possess co-morbid situations with stress and different behavior health problems occurring subsequent in the initial absence diagnosis, ” noted cindy keaveney head of aon hewitt’s absence management follow. “this situation will negatively affect an employee’s timely come back to labor. additionally, workforce productivity might well be impacted by workers who aren't absent from work, nonetheless aren't totally productive attributable to stress or another behavioral health conditions. ”

High stress levels too result in employees’ inability to get their health goals which can certainly negate employers’ efforts to further improve the overall health and well-being of their total workforce. recent business research has verified that highly stressed individuals are 30 p.c less seemingly to eat healthily, 25 p.c less seemingly to exercise and 200 p.c seemingly to'>more prone to fail weight loss programs. these workers too get half as abundant sleep as individuals reporting low levels of stress4.

Designing an efficient approach to stress

Aon hewitt suggests employers concentrate on 3 areas to further improve the emotional well-being and social anxiety inside the workforce.

1 ) Investigate the causes of stress and potential solutions

Employers have out to be compelled to take into account each internal and external components in analyzing stress. factors outside the workplace inclusive of family strains and factors within the whole workplace inclusive of long work hours will too contribute to high stress levels within the whole workplace. by gathering feedback through focus teams and employee surveys, employers will gain a more robust understanding of one's triggers inside their employee populations and develop new strategies for reducing workplace stress.

2 ) Encourage workers to bring advantage of stress reduction resources

Employers ought to build a deliberate effort to point out support for stress management initiatives within the whole workplace by encouraging workers to take part in stress management coaching programs and physical activity throughout the workday. this might embody scheduling a work area clean-up day, “bring your pet to work” day, or relaxation techniques inclusive of mindfulness and meditation to assist workers higher manage stress in the difficult work environment and beyond.

Employers ought to too encourage workers to utilise existing resources inclusive of employee assistance program and work life services, and engage on-site wellness coaches to assist in relieving the stress related to daily challenges and life events.

3 ) Promote emotional well-being

Employers ought to encourage workers to bring vacation time as well as offer flexible work schedules in as numerous roles as you can. aon hewitt’s information shows just 35 p.c of workers say their employer encourages them to bring vacation time, and simply one-fourth say their employer encourages flexible work arrangements. 5

Organizations will too sponsor and support activities that promote camaraderie among workers and aqcuire individuals moving. these activities might embody community walk and run events, company sports groups, volunteering inside the community and encouraging healthy cluster lunch get-togethers.

Employers ought to too develop approaches that build and promote resiliency currently being a method to encourage healthy coping skills in the eye of life’s challenges, inclusive of communication and problem-solving skills.