The news of a recent survey that shows that 77% of Americans are stressed about something at work could make you think that the other 23% are lying. The recession has brought new challenges to the workplaces and those who responded to the study say these are some of the biggest reasons why they can’t sleep at night:
- Low pay
- Time spent commuting
- Unreasonable workloads
- Fear of job loss
- Annoying coworkers
For employers this is a concern as growing frustration may cost you some of your top talent as well as the unsung heroes who help keep your company running smoothly. Bringing in replacements routinely costs more than an additional third of the original employee’s salary so defections are a lose-lose for you.
The challenges we face in our business climate aren’t going away anytime soon. But we change the way we get around these obstacles. To get you thinking about creative solutions, let’s take a trip back to airports in the past.
Back then luggage was something that people carried. Putting a wheel on a suitcase seemed as sensible as putting a zipper on a car. But then in 1972, a man named Bernard David Sadow decided to put wheels on suitcases. The idea took a while to catch on but today’s airports are full of heavy suitcases being easily moved through terminals.
Someone thought of a new way to approach an old problem and countless shoulders are thankful for it. The weight of the bag didn’t change and the distance traveled stayed the same. But two little wheels transformed the experience.
Let’s revisit the complaints of the 77% mentioned in the stress survey and discuss possible solutions:
Low pay: This is a tough thing to change but can you share a vision of how employees could make more money either through savings or increased productivity? The key is making people feel like they are part of a process and not just victims on a random paycheck.
Time spent commuting: Can you incorporate a flexible schedule for those who have long rush hour commutes? Can some work from home? Try this on a trial basis with the understanding that if productivity drops, the experiment ends.
Unreasonable workloads: Do employees feel empowered to ask for help when they need it or do they struggle in silence? Does your work culture encourage others to pitch in when needed?
Fear of job loss: As our society becomes more transparent, many employers have put up an iron curtain when it comes to bad news. I think it’s time to share the bad news because ultimately it will be less of a distraction than the unknown. You get extra credit if you can share bad news and unveil an action plan for handling it.
Annoying coworkers: Unfortunately, these people are likely here to stay. Keep in mind that bad behavior is often nothing more than cry for help. You probably can’t change these people but you can choose how you react to them. When someone annoys me, I tend to keep replaying the event in my head. Basically, I’m giving them free rent in my brain. Make the choice to not empower the negative nellies on your job by thinking about him or her anymore than you need to.
Perhaps these changes seem like they won’t make much of a difference. If you feel like that, then carry your suitcase the next time you go to the airport.
