Give Your Employees What They Really Want This Year For Xmas, A Stress Free Workplace

Christmas can easily become one of the most stressful times of the year; with the parties, decorations, cooking, family and the endless lists of gifts to buy. But if you ask most people what they really want for Christmas ñ they want a stress-free, happy time with the family. Itís up to the employer to ensure that work is not contributing to its employees stress levels. Is it possible to create a fabulous stress free work environment in the build up to Christmas and give your employees something really special that they can enjoy the whole year round?

Stress Management Expert, Alyssa Abbey offers the following advice on creating a stress free workplace:

The challenge of creating a stress-free work environment is multifaceted. Too many companies put one or two measures in place and think theyíve done enough. But different people get stressed about different things, so the best approach is to ensure that all the bases that the Health and Safety Executive have highlighted, are covered. Using the ëManagement Standardsí for stress, these are my recommendations based on 18 years experience.

Make sure there is adequate training for every employee in every role. Itís stressful not to feel able to do your job properly. Too often training is promised but never followed through.

Review work demands regularly because roles have a tendency to expand. This is so simple but seldom done. It can easily be part of a performance review.

Following on from that, ensure that employees understand their work priorities. We all have too much to do and too little time. Make sure your employees know what the critical success factors are for their roles.

Also make sure that roles are crystal clear. A lot of stress comes from conflicting aspects of a role, or working on projects for more than one manager and being torn between conflicting priorities.

Provide adequate resources to do the job. Inadequate equipment, manpower or authority to do a job properly can be extremely stressful.

Provide a comfortable and appropriate work environment. Obviously this is a subjective thing, but a lot of people walk into a pretty depressing environment every day. Making the office bright and cheerful doesnít have to cost the earth. Neither does water coolers or decent tea cups, live plants, or even bowls of fruit.

Communicate openly about organizational change. Nothingís so stressful for some people than uncertainty and the feeling the future of the organization is a big secret.

Put in place programmes, training and systems that will build and enhance personal relationships. Employees who have friends in the company, get along with and respect their boss, and feel supported by management are much less likely to suffer stress-related illness.

The above recommendations are all preventative measures, but donít forget that you also need a safety net that should include a confidential counseling help line, occupational health support and referrals, and having managers and HR well versed in their legal responsibilities in cases of stress-related illness.

Previously a manager of BUPAís Corporate Well-being Services, Alyssa runs corporate and individual workshops on how to live with less stress and increased vitality. She is a regular contributor to Ultra-Fit magazine and presents a weekly holistic health programme on regional radio station, Express FM in Hampshire. She is currently penning her second book, Stop Making Excuses and Start Living with Vitality, out early next spring.