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Stressed Out Workplace

In these tough economic times, companies are maxing out the work efforts of the employees. Have you been downsized? Are you working two or possibly three person’s jobs? Employees who remain with the company are grateful to have work– however they are under much more stress. And this is where safety gets side-lined.  When you are too worried about a paycheck, further layoffs, working with multiple responsibilities, unable to take vacation or sick leave you can make costly and sometimes deadly mistakes. Stress in the workplace can be a factor in both workplace injuries and overall health. Symptoms of job stress can manifest as: 

• Headaches 
• Upset Stomach 
• Sleep Disturbances 
• Difficulty in Concentrating 
• Short Temper
• Low Morale

How can we reduce some of the stress in our lives?

1. Balance between work and family and personal life.  (No one ever said on their death bed, I wish I could have worked more.)
2. Have some fun.  Laughter can release endorphins that can relive stress.
3. Have a support network of co-workers and friends.
4. Ask for help (Sometimes we truly can not do it all.)

What can we do as employers?

• Show employees appreciation for their efforts.
• Ensure that the workload is in line with the employees' capabilities and resources.
• Give employees the opportunities to use their skills.
• Clearly define expectations. Communicate with all employees' factors and actions that affect their jobs.
• Provide opportunities for employees to interact with each other, to discuss responsibilities and ideas.

 If you would like more information about this topic or others, please Tim McNulty at E-mail: tim@safetytrainingworks.com or if you have any questions please call Tim McNulty at (425) 301-2276 (Oregon) or (425) 301-2276 (Washington).