Gift Basket Business Blog

Handling Employee Stress

August 5th, 2010 at 04:54pm Lorie Obernauer

If you listen to the news or read the newspaper on a regular basis, you are bombarded by problems and  crisis:  oil spills and accompanying safety issues, displaced workers striking out against former employers and co-workers, nations at war, economic problems, political dissent and more, more, more. As business owners, we need to recognize that these critical situations can affect our workers too and create new challenges the in workplace. As our employees are faced with  stressful situations outside of the work situation, they often bring their worries into the workplace and negatively affect the work environment.

As business owners, we can’t solve the world’s problems, or even our employees’ problems, but we can still help our employees and ourselves during these uncertain times. An article that I read in Incentive Magazine describes 10 ways that we can keep our staff motivated and energized while at work.

I especially like the two following suggestions but read the full article for a new look at things you can do to alleviate stress in your organization.

“Hold regular team or staff meetings. Consistent communication and awareness-building are essential.  Keep everyone posted on the latest developments and be upfront about the unknowns. ”

“Emphasize the importance of looking after oneself. Provide internal and external resources for health and wellness improvement, with tips for getting proper rest, healthy nutrition, and keeping physically fit.

Entry Filed under: Business Tips, Employee Training