M ANAGING S TRESS AT W ORKPLACE

7.9 M ANAGING S TRESS AT W ORKPLACE

If an employer finds that his staff is under stress, he should not ignore them. He should take steps to help them. If he finds it difficult to provide a solution for it, he should get the help of another capable person. If the employee is suffering from non work related stress, even then it should be looked into as it may later lead on to work related stress. There is no single stress relief method. The stress management at workplace thus has to combine steps to eliminate the source of stress and provide relief for the short and long term effects by utilizing popular stress relievers. Also identify the best candidate for work by assessing his emotional intelligence and not just his qualification.

S TEPS TO R ELIEVE S TRESS AT W ORKPLACE

The following are the methods for relieving stress due to various workplace related issues:

If the person is the right candidate and if he is been overlooked for promotion, the employer should empathize with him and talk to him with compassion. If he is not the right candidate, the employer should explain to him the reasons for it and try to help him from a productive career plan.

If management problem including unreasonable demands for performance results in stress, it should be dealt by the employee based on whether he is cordial or not with his boss. If the employee is cordial with his boss he can give a feedback. The feedback should

be production oriented and not interpersonal relationship oriented. If the employee is not cordial with his boss or scared to talk him, then he should approach the problem through the employees union.

If inappropriate or monotonous job are the causes of stress, then the employer should intervene. He should keep assessing the skills of

Stress

the employee and change it accordingly. He should make the environment employee friendly and fun filled.

If job insecurity and retirement are the causes of stress, again the employer has to intervene. He should try to find new opportunities for the stressed employee. Even after retirement he should try to involve them as mentors.

If poor interpersonal relationship results in stress, then the employee should try to develop a cordial relationship with colleagues and the boss. During free time he should talk to them about their families, friends and other personal issues.

Workplace conflict is a double edged sword. It may result in new ideas and researches being formed or may result in decrease in communication and a drop in the production. Based on which of these two occurs measures are taken for stress relief. 'Personal Office' concept can be used for relieving stress due to workplace conflict.

‘The Personal Office’ in most companies helps to resolve conflicts with other employees and to resolve problems associated with job responsibilities. If discussing the situation with the employer does not resolve the situation or if the employee finds it very uncomfortable to discuss it with the management, then Personal Office may be approached to solve the problem.

The above mentioned methods are for stress relieving methods which act by correcting the stress inducing problems. In addition work stress can also be relived by other stress relief methods like:

Consuming a healthy, balanced nutritious diet

Do deep breathing exercise

Squeeze stress balls

Listen to music

Practice yoga, meditation

Go for a walk

Talk to a close friend and try to find his view of the problem

Play games

Play with kids

Play with pets There are different techniques used by Indian organization for reduction

of stress which are as follows: