Stress Relief Saves Money and Lives

You know work-related stress is unhealthy for your employees, but it can be far worse than you might even imagine: It can kill.

Stress is a common condition, universal among people no matter what their work and life situations.

And at its most severe, studies have shown, it can cause a number of health problems.

Job stress raises the risk of heart disease, according to research that indicates the cause may be attributed to both behavioral and biological factors.

Stress-related behaviors such as unhealthy eating and smoking combined with an overabundance of the stress hormone cortisol in the blood can wreak havoc on the heart.

Fortunately, it seems that more and more businesses are taking the issue of stress in the workplace seriously.

And with good reason: In a recent survey, more than 80% of employers said that their health care costs are affected by employee stress.

In addition to the increase in health care costs, stressed-out workers can take a toll on your company in other ways, including absenteeism and on-the-job safety. (More accidents happen when workers are distracted by stress.)

In response to the growing awareness of the need for stress relief, both for the well-being of employees and for the good of the business, 66% of employers surveyed had adopted strategies aimed at reducing job stress.

These include employee assistance programs, work/life balance support, on-site fitness centers, and stress-awareness campaigns.

However you see fit to help your employees manage stress, take action sooner than later.

Here are a few tips on relieving workplace stress: