Employee Burnout

There is an overwhelming disconnect between how employees and employers see stresses of the job. For example organizational culture, this could involve a lack of teamwork, avoiding accountability or a tendency to assign blame. This was number four on the employee list, while employers thought it is a lower priority at number eight. How can employers and employees get anything done when they cant even address basic issues in the work environment. Not only is stress harmful to the individual it inhibits work flow. The American Psychological Association pegs the cost of job stress at some $300 billion per year.

If you know your employees on a more friendly personal level you can assess their stress or if they look overwhelmed. Employees think that a lack of adequate staffing is cause for stress while employers believe there is a lack of work/person balance. Many employees have a proper balance but with the ability to be called on by an employer 24/7 continually push things off balance. Employers need to set guidelines for communication outside of business hours.

Also teamwork is essential to any business running smoothly. This doesn’t have to be a silly weekend retreat that most people dread. Teambuilding can be things as simple as similar interest groups like a book club or fitness group. Groups create cross departmental relationships and pull your entire team together.

We have a list of five quick and easy ways employers can improve their organizations culture and make their business a strong team centric environment.

1. Infuse recreational activities

The interior design of your workplace is one of the major factor that directly affects the mind of your employees. Hence, focusing on your workplace area is the first thing you should consider for team-building activities. What can you do?

• Install a television set- Placing a television on the wall of specific room will not only make for a real stress-buster to employees, but also encourage group discussions about current events. Utilize lunch hours for entertaining such team-building activity.

• Dedicate a rest room- Allowing your employees a dedicated room to relax will rejuvenate their minds which will automatically help them perform good at work. You can include couches, magazine stand, dart-board, and other fun activities in the rest room.

• Have a book club- Reading seems to be a favorite stress relief source to many people. Installing a book shelf at a specific area at work will encourage employees across the workplace to read and discuss a particular book turn-by-turn. This will bring a chance for employees to mingle as well as eliminate the fear of speaking in public.

2. Arrange frequent group discussions

Dedicate a day or two in a month, when you can organize a session from experts of different industry to undertake group discussions. By doing this you offer your employees to indulge with topic irrelevant to their work. This will also enhance knowledge of weak employees by encouraging them to participate in group discussions. Create small group of employees of up to ten people to enthusiastically discuss and respond to topic related questions.

3. Encourage fitness sessions

The more you bring your employees together and encourage wellness program, the less absenteeism you’ll have at your workplace. Are you doing it for your employees? If not, it’s time to encourage fitness program for your employees. By doing this, you can reduce stress level amongst employee up to a great extent. You can do it by entertaining exercise sessions (not for long, maybe 15 minutes of the day at work), bring in a doctor to educate them more about wellness, and many other ways.

4. Bring out employee’s talent

Your employees may have the best skills fit for your workplace, but encouraging them to show-off their hobbies will not only reduce stress but also you give them the platform to gain confidence to come out with their hidden talent in front of others at the workplace. Dedicate a day for such activity which will automatically create a stress-free work environment.

5. Organize an incentive program