Stress management refers to a wide spectrum of techniques and therapies that aim to control a person's levels of stress, especially chronic stress, to improve everyday functioning.
Preventing Job Stress
If employees are experiencing unhealthy levels of stress, a manager can bring in an objective outsider, such as a consultant, to suggest a fresh approach. But there are many ways managers can prevent job stress in the first place. A combination of organizational change and stress management is often the most effective approach. Among the many different techniques managers can use to effectively prevent employee stress, the main underlying themes are awareness of possibly stressful elements of the workplace and intervention when necessary to mitigate any stress that does arise.
Specifically, organizations can prevent employee stress in the following ways:
Intentional Job Design
- Design jobs that provide meaning and stimulation for workers as well as opportunities for them to use their skills.
- Establish work schedules that are compatible with demands and responsibilities outside the job.
- Consider flexible schedules—many organizations allow telecommuting to reduce the pressure of being a certain place at a certain time (which enables people to better balance their personal lives).
- Monitor each employee's workload to ensure it is in line with their capabilities and resources.
Clear and Open Communication
- Teach employees about stress awareness and promote an open dialogue.
- Avoid ambiguity at all costs—clearly define workers' roles and responsibilities.
- Reduce uncertainty about career development and future employment prospects.
Positive Workplace Culture
- Provide opportunities for social interaction among workers.
- Watch for signs of dissatisfaction or bullying and work to combat workplace discrimination (based on race, gender, national origin, religion, or language).
Employee Accountability
- Give workers opportunities to participate in decisions and actions that affect their jobs.
- Introduce a participative leadership style and involve as many subordinates as possible in resolving stress-producing problems.
Stress Prevention Programs
St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company conducted several studies on the effects of stress prevention programs in a hospital setting. Program activities included educating employees and management about workplace stress, changing hospital policies and procedures to reduce organizational sources of stress, and establishing of employee assistance programs. In one study, the frequency of medication errors declined by 50% after prevention activities were implemented in a 700-bed hospital. In a second study, there was a 70% reduction in malpractice claims among 22 hospitals that implemented stress prevention activities. In contrast, there was no reduction in claims in a matched group of 22 hospitals that did not implement stress prevention activities.