What is the cost of stress in your workplace?
The stress response that is innate in all of us and it is not only useful it’s crucial to our survival. We have evolved and survived because of it. We have outrun all those lions. But what if it’s not lions anymore but our co-worker that we percieve as a threat, but our response is turning on the same system. And because as humans we are able to turn on that stress response just by thought alone, then we keep that stress response going when its actually designed for short term use only.
Stress in the workplace can have significant costs, both to individual employees and to organizations as a whole.
Some of the costs associated with workplace stress include:
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Reduced productivity: When employees are stressed, they may have difficulty focusing, completing tasks efficiently, and making decisions. This can lead to reduced productivity and lower-quality work.
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Increased absenteeism: Stress can also cause employees to miss work more frequently, which can result in lost productivity and increased costs for the organization.
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Higher healthcare costs: Chronic stress can lead to a variety of health problems, including heart disease, obesity, and depression, which can increase healthcare costs for both the individual and the organization.
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Higher turnover rates: Employees who are highly stressed may be more likely to leave their jobs, which can result in higher turnover rates and increased costs associated with recruiting and training new employees.
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Reduced morale: Stress in the workplace can also have a negative impact on employee morale, which can lead to decreased motivation, lower job satisfaction, and higher turnover rates.
The bottom line
Overall, the cost of stress in the workplace can be significant, both in terms of financial costs and the impact on employee well-being and organizational effectiveness. Employers should take steps to identify and address sources of stress in the workplace in order to promote a healthy and productive work environment.