Overcoming Work Stress is Only a Step Away

Stress Should Not be the Norm in our Lives

When we become stressed or feel overwhelmed dealing with our jobs, it is not uncommon to search for ways to feel better. Many people turn to food, alcohol and drugs as a way to boost their spirits short term but these addictions don’t help us combat stress and, long term, they will destroy us, not help us cope.

Our survey results show that it is likely that at least one-quarter of employees in the U.S. is experiencing a high level of dysfunction due to stress and overwork.

What we also learned is that:
• One-in-four employees reports that they continually have more work than they can finish;

• One-in-three strongly agrees that their work is stressful; and

• Only one-in-four strongly agrees that they are able to find a satisfactory balance between personal/family obligations and career responsibilities.

In addition, less than one-half of U.S. employees agree that "Senior management encourages employees to have fun at work”.

So we searched our great land to find out how this issue is being addressed in companies across the U.S., which led us to a recent article by Argus Leader, and the story of one group of employees that have found the perfect answer.
For 10 years now, a group of employees who work at Sioux Empire United Way have participated in a walking program. The employees describe the benefits best, "We've seen tremendous results in employee health and stress reduction," says Jay Powell, president of the Sioux Empire United Way on North West Avenue.
Walking gets people out of their chairs, which is a healthy alternative to sitting all day. It also allows co-workers to bond about non-work related topics and their personal lives. And what makes it work is a schedule that takes place promptly, twice each day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Peer pressure works to everyone’s advantage in this case, as no one wants to be left behind. The result, instead of sitting in their break room eating and drinking, they are on the move.

"It's nice to step away from your desks, stand up and move around. It helps lower stress, and the team time helps build relationships," says Julia Brown, a 27-year-old executive assistant. She's been walking with the group ever since she was hired four years ago.

The commitment has survived the years because they don’t let anything stop them. If bad weather makes outdoor walking a challenge, they have an indoor route through wide hallways. And to keep it light, they all wear brightly colored walking shoes.
"It's a great way to get out of the office — it combats the mid-morning and afternoon slump, plus you build relationships with co-workers," Kacey McCarthy says.

Work stress has a direct impact on employee’s productivity. We recommend you take the time to get insights and understand how your employees are feeling with an employee survey. Walking can’t fix every problem but it is one way to make a positive difference. If you know of other great ways to combat stress, we would love to hear what works in your organization!

For more information or to learn more about Insightlink's 4Cs Survey Methodology for measuring and tracking employee engagement, please call us at 866-802-8095 ext. 705 or email information@insightlink.com today.

Full article here