Most companies these days are actively striving to engage more employees… and most think of
More than half of employees in North America (64%) report experiencing high levels of stress, and work is one of the most commonly reported causes of that stress. In a 2014 survey, 35% of respondents reported losing an hour or more per day of productivity due to stress. Chronic stress can cost a lot more than a few hours of lost productivity - it can lead to serious mental and physical health issues.
On the flip side, in addition to just saving money you’d waste on lost productivity and turnover due to burnout, a New York Times article I read recently cites a study by Towers Watson that found that companies actually benefit financially from promoting employees' physical, emotional and social well-being: "Companies in which employees reported feeling well taken care of — including not working too many hours — had twice the operating profit margins of those with traditionally engaged employees, and three times the profit levels of those with the least engaged employees."
In my mind, preventing chronic stress and burnout in your workplace is a win-win. So, how do you do that? Many of these tips are adapted from Tony Schwartz’s “The Secret to Sustaining High Job Performance.”
Find a balance between getting the most productivity out of your team and giving them permission to take care of themselves. Chances are, you’ll find that giving your team the flexibility to recharge results in more creativity, more passion, and more engagement in the long run.
Good luck!
Photo Credit: iStock by Getty Images
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