The cost of stressed out staff to small businesses can be huge, with higher levels of absence and staff turnover and lower levels of productivity all likely outcomes.
To mark National Stress Awareness Day, HR services company Ceridian has revealed the top 10 list of employee gripes, which may sound trivial but are anything but that if they contribute to office stress.
Top of the list is colleagues avoiding doing their fair share of work, followed by arguing in work places, gossiping and complaining. Other gripes include hijacking meetings with personal agendas, taking excessive tea, cigarette or toilet breaks and swearing.
"Irritating habits may be funny when portrayed in sitcoms like The Office but in real life they're no joke," says Doug Sawers, managing director of Ceridian. "Employers should be on the lookout for annoying behaviours that stress out fellow workers. Stressful and disruptive behaviour can affect office morale, productivity and, as a result, the bottom line."
The cost of stressed out staff to small businesses can be huge, with higher levels of absence and staff turnover and lower levels of productivity all likely outcomes.
To mark National Stress Awareness Day, HR services company Ceridian has revealed the top 10 list of employee gripes, which may sound trivial but are anything but that if they contribute to office stress.
Top of the list is colleagues avoiding doing their fair share of work, followed by arguing in work places, gossiping and complaining. Other gripes include hijacking meetings with personal agendas, taking excessive tea, cigarette or toilet breaks and swearing.
"Irritating habits may be funny when portrayed in sitcoms like The Office but in real life they're no joke," says Doug Sawers, managing director of Ceridian. "Employers should be on the lookout for annoying behaviours that stress out fellow workers. Stressful and disruptive behaviour can affect office morale, productivity and, as a result, the bottom line."
Croner offers the following tips on how your staff can prevent stress levels getting too high:
Set aside time for project work. Ignore or turn off your email alert and divert your phone when working on important tasks so you can focus on the project at hand. Multi-tasking can make us less productive and it may be helpful to set aside time for focused effort each day
Revisit timelines. Assess whether your timelines are realistic. Working toward deadlines you cannot meet is self-defeating. Re-adjust the timeline when necessary
Talk about it. Communicate concerns to your co-workers and suggest ideas for how to improve your situation. Ask for help with tasks that are easily delegated such as research, follow-up calls and other basic tasks
Set boundaries. Find the appropriate balance between life and work. With 24/7 access to mobile phones, email and PDAs, many modern workers need to be reminded to stop working after business hours or to fully recharge themselves during holiday periods. Time away from work will make you a more productive worker during normal office hours
Eat lunch. Enjoy healthy food at lunchtime, each day. Instead of working through lunch, take the time to eat and enjoy a few minutes away from your work. Sit and talk with colleagues or take a quick walk
Pay attention to posture. When you find yourself in a tense meeting, pay attention to your shoulders and arms. Are they tense? Try sitting with your palms face up on your lap. This pose naturally relaxes your shoulders and relieves neck tension. When sitting at your desk, are you hunched over? Sit up and make sure your workstation is suitable
Stretch, breathe and find perspective. It sounds simple, but moving your muscles and deeply filling your lungs several times a day can help you instantly lower tension and stress. Take time on a regular basis to reconnect with your body, recognise stress as it escalates, and look at the big picture. When you take time to reflect on your current state of affairs, you may often find that it's not so bad after all