Occupational health is a key factor in measuring the state of a company. But today, we hear more and more about stress in the workplace as a scourge that has a very negative effect on the development of the company since it leads to an increase in the rate of absenteeism and a considerable decrease in productivity. Moreover, it is an evil that is costing the social security system a great deal of money. Faced with these various issues, it is urgent to engage in a fight to avoid stress at work. Discover in this article, the various means available to fight stress.
Definition of stress in the workplace
Before moving on to the presentation of training to combat stress in the workplace, it is important to clearly define this notion. By definition, stress comes from the English term "distress" which means distress. It is a response mechanism to environmental pressure that can create several emotions such as sadness or anxiety.
According to the WHO (World Health Organization), stress in the workplace is defined as an effect with negative connotations for the productivity of the company. It refers to the set of behaviours that employees may have when faced with needs and pressures at work that are not in line with their skills and knowledge. This situation leads to a questioning of their ability to manage these cases. Stress at work can therefore have a negative impact on the physical and moral state of a staff member. This is why it is important to take training to combat stress at work.
Of course, there are two types of stress: positive and negative. When faced with a situation, some people react differently and stress can be interpreted as a real boost or disastrous pressure. As a result, one employee may be re-energized by stress while another will be completely devastated.
What are the consequences of this phenomenon?
The psychosocial risks of this phenomenon are: anxiety, sadness, strong demotivation, a drop in self-esteem, repeated absenteeism, etc. The occupational risks linked to these consequences are: burnout or boron out.
When we talk about burnout, we are referring to professional exhaustion following a work overdose. People who suffer from this illness devote themselves entirely to their work, a lifestyle, a cause, etc. Unfortunately, the expected rewards are not commensurate with the efforts made. Boron out is also a sign of exhaustion caused by boredom. Repetitive tasks make the work uninteresting. In a work environment based on productivity rates, employees can quickly feel left out. This void in their working life can also create professional and moral stress.
Fear of losing one's place in the company, questioning one's actions, feeling out of place are stress-generating feelings. The staff no longer really feel concerned by the company's development.
What can be done to manage stress in a work situation?
This phenomenon is not inevitable and it is possible to find solutions to eradicate it.
First of all, the company director must encourage teamwork. It is important that supervisors mingle with employees and ask their questions directly. Knowing that other people are experiencing difficulties can help to re-motivate the employee. Working in a team encourages initiative and restores self-confidence.
Then, the employee must be able to give himself more time. It is important to invest in personal projects and desires. In some companies, staff have the opportunity to reduce working hours or to agree on flexible working hours. This allows them to disconnect from the professional world. It is also a good idea to get organized and take weeks (two to three) of vacation to blow off all the pressure of work.
Task organization is also a very good way to reduce stress in the workplace. It involves planning what needs to be done, establishing a plan of action and following it carefully.
Take training to combat stress
When a company carries out an inventory of fixtures and becomes aware of the general malaise in its offices, it must ask for the contribution of experts such as trainers, the occupational psychologist, the ergonomist, etc.
Today, there are different types of training in which companies can participate in order to know the actions to be taken to eradicate this phenomenon that is harmful to productivity in a structure. In order to choose the right training, the company manager must identify the different problems related to stress at work, detect the causes and choose a programme that proposes realistic and adapted solutions.