While employees and employers can agree that workplace stress can cause both physical and mental concerns, the reasons why are not. In a recent article that appeared at Workforce.com, managers and executives have no problem in admitting that technology can attribute to worker stress. Often employees feel pressured to be constantly available. This can cause workers to feel as if they are on the job even outside of normal working hours.
However, workers still find that low pay and unclear job expectations and interoffice politics are even greater stressors. Employers, according to the Willis Towers Watson 2015 – 2016 “Staying at Work” report which was cited in the Workforce article, have very different ideas as to the contributors toward stress than what their workers do. The report surveyed more than 400 organizations over a wide spectrum. While managers attribute place low pay being 12th on their list of stressors for employees.
Another stressor is the culture within the workplace. While executives interviewed felt that company culture rated last in the list of concerns, according to the report, company culture was cited as being the third highest stress contributing factor in the workplace for workers. Workers felt that company cultures often have a distinct lack of teamwork. Similar culture concerns were described as the failure of coworkers and managers to assume accountability, showing an even greater disconnect between employers and employees.
In a study conducted by NPR (National Public Radio), the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in 2016, 85% of those who took part indicated that they had experienced a great deal of stress on the job. Even while attempting to lower the stress of workers, just half of all adults who participated said that company efforts to reduce stress were rated fair or poor.
For more in-depth information, check out the rest of Rita Pryllis’ article at Workforce.com.
At EinsteinHR, we know that your workers are your greatest resource. Keeping and retaining them is important. Companies with workers who feel valued and taken care of have a greater chance of staying on the job. Contact us today at 888-981-3622 (emc2) for a consultation to find out how we can help.