What is occupational stress?

The American Psychological Association (APA)’s definition of occupational stress is a “physiological and psychological response” to difficult situations at work, including tense muscles, high blood pressure, headaches or anxiety.

Occupational stress can be episodic or chronic. Symptoms caused by short-term stressors, like multiple deadlines or presentations, typically resolve after the event. However, ongoing stress can lead to health conditions that impact job performance and overall health.

Reducing stressors for your employees can help ease employee tension.

Common occupational stressors

To ensure a positive workplace, consider evaluating whether your organization has these common occupational stressors.

Job scope

Employees’ job responsibilities should align with their capabilities and resources. Employees may benefit from:

• Clear expectations regarding deadlines
• Realistic company objectives that follow specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound(SMART) goals
• Flexible working hours
• Various opportunities to learn new skills

Company culture

A company’s structure, policies and leadership style can affect employees’ performance and contribution to the team. Potential ways to reduce this organizational stress may include:

• Comprehensive onboarding or training
• Assignments that allow autonomous work
• Outlets for employee feedback
• Job security and an understanding of any organizational change
• An inclusive workplace

Workplace dynamics

Employee interactions with managers, colleagues and customers can typically help create a positive work environment. Consider whether your company encourages:

• Collaboration and teamwork
• Conflict resolution
• Respect in the workplace

Physical work environment

On-site employees generally need a well-designed workspace to perform their jobs safely and comfortably. These features can reduce environmental stressors in your office space:

• Improved ergonomics, including temperature, lighting and layout
• White noise machines
• Good indoor air quality (IAC)
• Office plants

Personal fulfillment

Satisfied employees are typically more invested in a company’s success. You may evaluate whether your company encourages professional development, including:

• Employee incentive programs
• Mentorships
• Cross-departmental training

Impact of occupational stress on employees and businesses

Occupational stress affects employees’ wellbeing and can impact your business. Relaxed employees are generally more productive and likely to do their best work.

Steps for managing occupational stress

You can take steps to reduce workplace frustration by considering employee needs. Consider creating an environment where staff feel safe, valued and part of a supportive community.

1. Recognize signs of stress

If you notice low morale, tension and dissatisfaction, look for possible occupational stressors. Ask your employees whether they have concerns or issues at work.

Depending on the size of the business, you might have one-on-one meetings with employees or seek input from the company’s managers and human resources (HR) professionals.Employee satisfaction surveys and exit interviews can also offer insight into areas for organizational improvements.

2. Offer solutions

Once you find the underlying causes of stress, work with your team to find solutions. Consider whether the issues are isolated or company-wide and caused by leadership styles, internal policies or a lack of resources.

You might offer management training, improve communications or refine your job descriptions to ensure employees can effectively do their jobs.

3. Implement strategies and evaluate effectiveness

After deciding on a course of action, communicate the change to employees. Provide guidance for leadership to ensure consistency in how the strategy is implemented.

Allow time for the improvements to take effect and assess whether they have the desired impact.

How to reduce workplace stress

The size of your organization, company culture and available resources likely impact your solutions for occupational stress. For example, to lessen the workload of a full-time team member, consider prioritizing projects or hiring freelancers.

Below are strategies for reducing common types of occupational stress.

Manage workloads

You can provide teams with adequate resources, training, equipment and support to help them succeed. Consider revising deadlines or focusing on high-value tasks. You might also review job descriptions, redistribute tasks and clearly define each team member’s role.

Create a positive environment

Team-building and social events help employees connect and inspire a sense of belonging and camaraderie. Encourage employees to collaborate and create a space where they feel comfortable sharing opinions and concerns. An inclusive workplace can help employees feel valued.

Address workplace conflict

Interpersonal conflict is a common source of occupational stress. To help prevent this, you can set clear guidelines for respectful behavior and encourage managers and employees to approach problems constructively. Management training, conflict resolution workshops and mediation can also help resolve issues.

Promote work-life balance

Consider creating a comfortable space where employees can take scheduled breaks, ensure they use their paid time off, limit after-hours communications or offer flexible schedules and remote work options to support personal obligations.

Support career advancement

Clear feedback can help improve job performance and employee satisfaction. You can also support their career development by discussing goals, identifying strengths and offering training and mentorship programs.

Prioritize employee wellbeing

You can actively support employees’ physical and mental health through:

• Employee assistance programs (EAPs)
• Wellness benefits
• Workshops covering topics such as stress relief, time management and communication

These strategies can help equip employees with the resources and support to navigate challenging situations. Integrating wellness into your company culture and reducing stressors helps promote an energized workforce ready to help your business achieve its goals.