Employee Wellness Programs: Focus on Stress Reduction

Advantages of Stress Reduction Programs

While stress cannot be eliminated from life, or even from the worksite, coping skills can be developed  with relative ease. Stress management skills lead to reduced absenteeism and more effective, more  productive employees. Because stress has been shown to contribute to such physical conditions as  ulcers, high blood pressure and stroke, stress reduction has a direct impact on improving physical  health.

Studies have shown that heart patients who attend stress management initiatives have 42% lower health  care costs. Other studies have documented a 50% reduction in medical services use when stress  management initiatives are employed. Further, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) experts estimate that  20% of any workforce is affected by personal problems that can influence work performance.

Stress reduction tactics to consider:

• Provide worksite yoga or meditation classes.
• Organize support groups among employees.
• Sponsor stress management classes during the workday.
• Provide an employee assistance program that includes both counseling and referral.
• Provide worksite counseling for employees in the case of a work-related trauma, such as the death of  a co-worker.