Workplace Health: Reducing Stress and Anxiety
Stress and anxiety are endemic to today's workplace. The ever-increasing prevalence of technology means that work can follow employees' home, meaning work problems haunt employees even when they are off the clock.
Small actions like physical activity and creating an environment where employees can seek out help can reduce employee stress and create sustainable solutions.
In this post, we will discuss how employers can reduce worker anxiety, promote physical activity in the workplace, target improved mental health in the workplace, and some SOCA benefits designed to reduce employee stress. Keep reading to learn more!
How to Reduce Workplace Anxiety
Worker anxiety is increasingly prevalent, but management can implement effective strategies to alleviate stress. One of the most impactful measures is promoting physical activity in the workplace. Encouraging short breaks for stretching or walking can rejuvenate employees and improve mood.
Let's look at some strategies for improving employee stress levels in the workplace.
Promoting Physical Activity in the Workplace
Workplaces are often sedentary environments, especially office spaces. Promoting physical activity can help reduce worker stress and promote increased activity. Below are two ways that you can promote physical activity in the workplace.
Offer Facilities and Resources
To promote physical activity in the workplace, many businesses provide accessible facilities and resources. This includes creating dedicated walking paths around the office or campus, providing secure bike storage, and offering standing desks or adjustable workstations.
Also, you may want to ensure there are areas for stretching or brief workouts, equipped with basic fitness tools like resistance bands or yoga mats.
Incorporate Activity into the Workday
You can add physical activity to your workday that fits in seamlessly with your schedule by implementing walking meetings and active breaks.
- Encourage employees to engage in walking meetings rather than traditional sitting meetings to foster physical movement while discussing ideas. This not only promotes physical health but can also enhance creativity and focus. Implement active breaks into the work culture, promoting short, regular intervals where employees can stretch or take a brisk walk.
- Consider offering flexible work arrangements that support physical activity, such as staggered work hours that allow employees to fit exercise into their schedules. By integrating these practices into the daily routine, organizations can create a healthier and more dynamic work environment.
Mental Health Support in the Workplace
Mental health is just as important as physical health in the workplace. Below are a few strategies designed to help implement improved mental health.
Creating an Open Culture for Mental Health Support in the Workplace
Promoting open communication about mental health is essential to reduce stigma and encourage employees to share their experiences. Leaders within the organization should actively engage in discussions about mental health, sharing their own journeys and challenges to normalize these conversations.
Implement Mental Health Training
Training is crucial. Providing mental health training for managers and employees can enhance their ability to recognize and react appropriately to mental health issues. Additionally, ensuring access to resources - such as hotlines, informative websites, and reading materials - empowers employees to seek help when needed.
Employee Assistance Programs
Implementing Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) is a vital component of mental health support. These programs should guarantee confidential counseling and support for employees dealing with personal or work-related challenges. Furthermore, offering a wide range of services, including mental health support, financial advice, and legal assistance, helps address various employee needs, fostering a healthier and more productive workplace.
Benefits that Reduce Worker Stress
SOCA is here to help your team reduce worker stress throughout your business. Many SOCA benefits come with the added perk of reducing work-related stress by helping employees overcome otherwise difficult situations and mental health challenges that arise from financial strain. Let's look at a few SOCA benefits that help reduce employee stress.
- The SOCA Benefit Plan
The SOCA Benefit Plan provides premium health coverage administered by Anthem at a fixed, and affordable rate. That means employees get access to top coverage that rivals that of the largest corporations. They can feel confident that their health, and the health of their families, is protected should any unforeseen medical issues arise.
- Worker's Compensation through Hunter Consulting
Sometimes accidents happen. With worker's compensation through Hunter Consulting, employees can feel confident that they will be taken care of in the event of a serious accident. This benefit helps alleviate stress by removing many of the "what ifs" that come with life on the job.
- DOLR
Student loans are a significant source of stress in employees' lives. Many have significant loans from attending school and they often struggle to come up with a strategy to pay off their debts. DOLR connects employees with the resources they need to pay off their student loans and get out of debt.
- Magnify Education
When workplaces give back to their employees, it helps reduce employee stress level and contributes to a healthier work environment. One of the best ways to give back to employees is by offering guided educational training, like Magnify Education through SOCA. Magnify Education offers a fun and engaging course of empathy designed to help employees look inwards and improve their attitude towards themselves and the world around them.
Learn More About SOCA Benefits to Reduce Employee Stress
Employee stress is a serious problem in the modern workplace. Personal technology also means that employees may feel tempted to work around the clock, meaning they rarely get sustained mental breaks.
Too much stress can lead to emotional burnout or even physical health issues. Implementing benefits designed to improve your employees' lives and security are some of the best strategies you can use to combat work-related stress.
SOCA offers many benefits designed to help employees reduce their stress and lead happier, healthier lives. Click here to reach out to SOCA and learn more about these benefits!
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