A recent study conducted by Yale University, surveyed 1,000 US employees to examine their levels of employee engagement and burnout. 40% of the employee sample reported high engagement and low burnout with high levels of positive emotions and skill acquisition and these employees were not looking for alternative employment. However, 20% of the sample reported both high engagement and high burnout. These workers were passionate about their work, but also had very mixed feelings about their job. Many reported high levels of stress and frustration. This group also had high skill acquisition, but they also had the highest turnover intentions. They were more likely to leave, than those who reported disengagement. High stress & burnout were factors that placed some of the most highly engaged and hardest-working employees at risk of leaving the organisation.
 
To promote employee engagement to get the most out of your people and that critical return on investment, business must provide employees with the resources they need to do their job well. Your employees need to feel good about their work, be trained in the skills they need and be supported to recover from the stressors as a result of completing that work.
 
The work itself should be monitored to determine the levels of demand that it places on employees and whether they are in fact appropriate over the longer term. The balance between demands and resources is critical. The higher the work demands, the greater need for employee support, acknowledgement and opportunities for recovery.
 
Stress Relieving Techniques
 
Reducing stress levels can have immediate effect as well as protecting long-term health. Some strategies for reducing stress:

  • Identify what’s causing stress. Monitor your state of mind throughout the day. If you feel stressed, write down the cause, your thoughts and your mood. Once you know what’s bothering you & develop a plan for addressing it. List all your commitments, assess your priorities and then eliminate any tasks that are not absolutely essential.
  • Build strong relationships. Relationships can be both a source of stress and a support mechanism. Reach out to family members or close friends and let them know you’re having a tough time. They may be able to offer practical assistance and support, useful ideas or just a fresh perspective as you begin to tackle whatever’s causing your stress.
  • Walk away when you’re angry. Before you react, take time to regroup by counting to 10. Then reconsider. Walking or other physical activities can also help you work off steam. Plus, exercise increases the production of endorphins, your body’s natural mood-booster.
  • Rest your mind. Stress keeps more than 40 percent of adults lying awake at night. To help ensure you get the recommended seven to eight hours sleep, cut back on caffeine, remove distractions such as television or computers from your bedroom and go to bed at the same time each night. Yoga and relaxation exercise also reduce stress.
  • Get help. If you continue to feel overwhelmed contact EAP Assist which can help you identify situations or behaviours that contribute to your chronic stress and then develop an action plan for changing them.

 For further support & advice contact EAP Assist.