The Importance of an Employee Stress Management Program

What can be done to manage and/or apply preventative measures to prevent stress in the workplace?

The potential ramifications for the employer can be costly when employees succumb to internal and external stressors. To effectively combat job stress and develop a comprehensive stress management program, organizations must be cognizant of several areas that may be contributing factors to an employee’s stress level. Internally, organizations should review the employee’s workload and ensure that they have the necessary skills to complete the tasks they are expected to complete (Ornelas & Kleiner, 2003). They must also work to “motivate, challenge and take full advantage of the employee’s skills and abilities” (Ornelas & Kleiner, 2003). Employee’s job stress can also be decreased by allowing them take an active part in decisions, creating an atmosphere that facilitates a support network, and offering flexibility in their schedules that allows them to address responsibilities outside the workplace (Ornelas & Kleiner, 2003).

Addressing job stress is not only the responsibility of the organization. Individuals must also share the responsibility for dealing with stress that is affecting them. They must be willing to take care of themselves through leading healthy lifestyles including eating a balanced diet, exercising, and taking advantage of stress reductions techniques and therapies which could include yoga, meditation or aromatherapy.

It is important to reiterate that when dealing with job stress, the organization must be sure to make the careful distinction between the commonly perceived definition of stress and positive stress within the organization. Through Seley’s research, he postured that positive stress can “be helpful when it motivates people to accomplish more” (The American Institute of Stress). This positive stress serves as a motivator that drives people to reach goals.

In Murphy and Shoeborn’s paper, Stress Management in Work Settings, practical information in presented regarding the application of a stress management program within the workplace, along with guidance for creating a “comprehensive stress management program which encourages each individual to become more self-responsible and self-determining, and suggests that the overall program must focus on dynamics within the organization as well as within the individual” (Murphy & Shoenborn, 1987). In addition, Murphy and Shoenborn state that to develop an effective stress management program; several steps as indicated in must be applied as outlined in Figure 3

Careful attention must be given