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workplace stressWorkplace Stress is a Business Problem That Companies Prefer to Ignore

by Pamela Skillings     Send to a friend Send to a friend


Workplace stress is the most frequently cited reason U.S. employees consider leaving their jobs, according to a new survey by consulting firm Watson Wyatt Worldwide.  Employees defined their  top causes of workplace stress as long hours, work/life balance, technologies that expand availability, and managers’ inability to recognize stress.

 

More surprisingly, another Watson Wyatt survey found that nearly half of employers (48%) acknowledge that stress caused by overwork is affecting business performance and 32% said that work/life balance issues were taking a toll on the bottom line. 

 

Although companies know that workplace stress is a problem, very few are taking steps to address it. Only 5% said they are taking action to address stress caused by long hours. A more encouraging 16% said they are taking action to relieve stress caused by work/life balance issues.

 

Those companies that don’t address these issues may find themselves paying the price in health care and retention costs. According to a statement by Shelly Wolf,  national practice director of health and productivity at Watson Wyatt: “Too much stress from heavy demands, poorly defined priorities and little on-the-job flexibility can add to health issues. By leaving stress unaddressed, employers invite an increase in unscheduled time off, absence rates and health care costs — all of which hurt a company’s bottom line.”

 

 

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February 17, 2008 | Digg | Del.icio.us | Stumble | Reddit | Facebook | Newswine |

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3 Responses to 'Workplace Stress is a Business Problem That Companies Prefer to Ignore'

  1. Workplace Stress is a Business Problem That Companies Prefer to Ignore : Anxiety-Stress - February 17th, 2008 at 8:03 pm

    […] Original post by Pamela Skillings […]

  2. Cali Ressler and Jody Thompson - February 18th, 2008 at 12:11 am

    Hi Pamela -

    It is completely insane, isn’t it, that companies simply don’t seem to care about the ramifications of stress caused by the work environment?! They must think “There’s stress in some work environments, but certainly not MINE.”

    It’s really time to dismantle the whole foundation that ‘work’ stands on. Rid ourselves of the beliefs we hold about how work needs to happen. Start focusing on RESULTS and only RESULTS. Until then, stress will keep mounting and we will have no one to blame but ourselves…

    Cali Ressler and Jody Thompson
    Creators of the Results-Only Work Environment (ROWE)
    Authors of the forthcoming book “Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It”

  3. Pamela Skillings - February 27th, 2008 at 5:31 pm

    Hi Cali and Jody:
    Sorry about the delayed response. My overeager spam filter was sitting on your comment. Thanks for your comment! I am a big admirer of your work with ROWE at Best Buy and can’t wait to read your book.

    Pam


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