Companies using more creative ways to combat stress in the workplace

Seems stress is a top instigator impacting health care costs for organizations, and it’s showing in the numbers of our work life experience. Not surprisingly, Buck Consultants, a division of Xerox, released that finding after conducting a survey at the WorldatWork Total Rewards Conference.

The report, “Stress in the Workplace,” identified stress points within organizations and the strategies that companies are using to combat the problem. The survey examined responses from 250 attendees at the conference whose company representation spanned many industries.

In the report, health care costs topped the workplace issues impacted by stress, followed by absenteeism and workplace safety. 78% of the respondents said that Employee Assistant Programs (EAP) are the most common resource used to handle stress. Flexible work schedules were the second most cited implemented strategies.

Here is the top ten list of strategies taken directly from the WorldatWork website.

• Work-life balance support programs (46%)
• Leadership training on worker stress (45%)
• Online healthy lifestyle programs (45%)
• Onsite fitness centers (43%)
• Physical activity programs (38%)
• Stress awareness campaigns (35%)
• Financial management classes (30%)
• Personal health/lifestyle management coaching (29%)

I’d like to point out Buck Consultants Blog,  Bucks Blog – this is going to be a new favorite playground. Great current information and analysis.

So,  attention to stress in the workplace is once again is backed by numbers. (Also check out the work at the Psychologically Healthy Workplace Program for reams of information on this topic. ) Why do you think it’s still not being addressed across the board in corporate America? What stress-busting strategies does your company use? If you are an entrepreneur, what are you doing differently to handle the problem. Please share!