HR professionals experiencing high stress levels due to turnover

News - Workplace Stress

Tuesday, 06 September 2011 16:00

Employees in human resources (HR) deal with a number of stressors throughout the day, including organizing employee health benefit information, ensuring worker satisfaction, hiring new staff members and retaining talent within a company.

According to an article in Human Resource Executive Online, a recent survey revealed that keeping important employees in a business is currently the biggest source of stress for people working in HR.

A total of 72 percent of respondents reported an increase in stress levels over the past 18 months, with 32 naming talent retention as their biggest challenge.

Industry Week magazine reports that there are three things organizations can offer to either attract or retain employees.

First, give them the opportunity to develop new skills and experience. Second, the idea of expanding a professional network is often attractive to workers. Lastly, the news source said businesses should encourage continued education for employees.

Considering the amount of stress they're under, HR professionals may significantly benefit from employee wellness programs that provide tips and tools for a healthy lifestyle.  

Hobbies may help reduce workplace stress

News - Workplace Stress

Monday, 05 September 2011 16:00

Supervisors often encourage workers to engage in physical activity, eat a balanced diet and take advantage of their vacation days in an effort to reduce workplace stress. Additionally, research has shown that after-hours hobbies may be another way to decrease anxiety in employees.

An article in the Miami Herald reports that hobbies can reduce stress, alleviate high blood pressure and stimulate creativity in workers.

“No matter how good you are, no matter how intense you are and no matter how much you enjoy your job, stepping away relaxes the mind and gives you a new perspective," said Jim Bird, CEO of Atlanta-based worklifebalance.com, quoted by the news source.

Whether the hobby is running, gardening, playing a musical instrument or collecting an item, individuals should make time for their after-hours activities the way they would schedule in work-related tasks, according to the news source.

An article on the Mayo Clinic's website reports that having a hobby can also boost self-esteem and give workers a sense of accomplishment.

Encouraging hobbies, like a company softball team or planning group outings, may be an effective complement to an employee wellness program. Initiatives that provide tools and resources for stress management have been shown to be effective in improving employee performance and reducing costs stemming from employee health benefits.  

Three psychological factors may promote employee engagement

News - Employee Performance

Thursday, 01 September 2011 16:00

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Researchers at the University of Toronto and the University of Guelph reported that employee engagement is an integral component of managing performance, and that efforts to help workers become more invested in their jobs is key in staff retention.

The team of scientists identified three psychological conditions that may encourage employee engagement.

First, they said that employees who are made to feel that the work they do is valued by the organization are more likely to be engaged in their job.

Next, the researchers noted that safety is important in employee engagement. Workers should feel as though their health or reputation are not at risk as a result of their position. Promoting safety can range from efforts to stave off workplace bullies to improved training aimed at preventing injuries on the job.

Lastly, psychological availability, or the characteristic of having the physical, emotional and mental resources to do a job, is essential to staff dedication.

Employee wellness programs that provide tools and resources for stress management may help workers become more in tune and promote well-being, thereby reducing workplace stress and strengthening employee performance.  

Strategy may improve ROI on wellness programs

News - Corporate Wellness Programs

Thursday, 01 September 2011 16:00

For many administrators, the first thing they want to know before implementing an employee wellness program is the return on investment (ROI) the company will receive.

An article on a website for the Human Resource Network states that wellness initiatives only need to reduce employee health risk factors by less than 1 percent in order to see savings on health insurance. In fact, the news source estimates that a 0.2 percent reduction in risk will typically earn companies their money back on the program over a five-year period.

There may be some strategies that can help businesses see an even better ROI, according to the Wellness Council of America (WELCOA).

First, administrators can review their organization's policy to see if a wellness program is covered by their insurance company. Additionally, wellness dollars available through some employee health benefit packages can provide incentives for workers to participate in programs that promote well-being.

Companies can also consider implementing policies that encourage healthy behavior, such as smoking bans. WELCOA reported that one organization was even able to fix their elevator to move slowly, prompting workers to take the stairs instead.