Reducing Workplace Stress
by Thomas E. Kennedy
published in the Daily Herald

We all live in a fast pace world, fast food, Internet, etc. Our days are getting shorter while our stress levels are rapidly rising. Over the years, I have found some basic programs a company can implement in order to reduce the stress level of its employees. These proven programs are as follows:

1. Prepare Job Descriptions for employees. Employees are less stressed out when they know what is expected of them in their day to day jobs.

2. Conduct Quarterly performance reviews. Employees worry about their job performance. They want to know where they stand with their boss. A lot of employees think the worst even when they are doing a good job. Tell the employee how they are doing. Be sure to point out weaknesses that they can correct. Don't wait till it's too late and you have to fire them. This will reduce a significant amount of stress for your employees.

3. Provide Seminars on Organization of Time and Priorities. Employees have to be trained on how to work smarter.

4. Provide your employees with a clean and pleasant place to eat lunch. Some companies provide ponds and benches outside, allowing employees to eat outdoors during the summer.

5. Exercise rooms are becoming the norm instead of the exception in many companies today.

6. Employee Assistance Programs help the employee overcome stress encountered at home due to alcohol, drugs or marriage problems. Counseling is provided to the employee at no charge and is totally confidential.

7. Provide your employees with Day Care subsidy. One way to reduce stress is insuring the employees that their children are being well taken care of.

8. Manage stress with laughter, have some fun on the job. Laughter helps team building, improves productivity and team spirit and most of all improves the personal well being of a company's employees. Bosses that smile a lot and have a sense of humor reduce stress.


Thomas E. Kennedy CPC
President of Human Resource Consultants Inc.
7720 W. Patterson Avenue, Chicago, IL 60634
773-589-9349
Fax # 773-625-5799
E-mail: hrcinc.com@aol.com