Stress is a rather unavoidable circumstance that is a byproduct of heightened situations both at work and at home. Three out of every four American workers describe their work as stressful, according to research from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and those numbers are nothing to scoff at. It’s imperative that managers and business owners help alleviate stress within the work place because not only is it terrible for employees, it’s pretty bad for business, too.
A recent infographic on stress in the workplace, created by the business VoIP experts over at GetVoIP, highlights some harrowing statistics. Eighty-three percent of Americans are stressed out at work, 76 percent have said that money is the cause of stress, and 31 percent are having issues with work/life balance. Commuting, inadequate wages and workplace bullying have been cited as sources of workplace stress.
Technology can make or break workplace-related stress. The Kensington Stress and Technology in the Workplace Survey, conducted by the Kensington Technology Group, showed that although 55 percent of the workers surveyed felt more productive then they had the previous year, 51 percent of them felt that technology increased their stress levels at work.
Managers need to step back and remember we are humans trying to process information using countless technological systems, which if not properly populated provides poor information or, if not operating properly, causes delays.
Decision makers should establish realistic suspense dates by giving reasonable time to work a task. Consider the chain of command, which takes time to coordinate the response. The outcome will be accurate and valid information, and in return, much less stress for employees.
Balancing technology use is key. Encourage employees that, while mobile devices are a great tool for keeping productivity levels high, it’s not always necessary to be connected all of the time.
Technologies like business VoIP have offered us countless opportunities to remain productive, even during the off hours. Using these technologies should utilized as a tool for good, not a source of stress.
Edited by Alisen Downey