on the job
With the amount of tension that can build up in a busy office, it’s no wonder that companies are starting to get creative with their de-stressing strategies. Check out these novel ideas and see if you can get your company interested…
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here is no escaping the fact that work can be stressful - according to government statistics 40% of all work-related illnesses are due to stress. Even if you’re lucky enough to work in your dream job, complete with killer salary, there will always be the odd day when you would rather walk over hot coals than spend another second at your desk. Quite simply, work wouldn’t be called work if it was supposed to be wall-to-wall fun and was guaranteed to be stress-free. With this in mind, company bosses face the daily challenge of maintaining harmony in the workplace, especially in jobs that are notoriously stressful. Jobs in the media, for example, regularly involve ridiculously long working hours, often with last minute deadlines. Whilst the majority of media types go into the business with their eyes open, knowing that this is the price to pay for a creative and exciting job, there does come a point where enthusiasm begins to wane, especially when stress starts to take its toll. Not only does creative momentum start to flag, so do energy levels, and it isn’t long before employees start ringing in sick with the dreaded phrase that turns every boss pale, ‘burn out’. DAMAGE LIMITATION GOES TOUCHY FEELY As a result of the dreaded burn out, employers are now looking at taking preventative measures rather than have a department running on empty. There are only so many team-building lunches and performance related bonuses that can keep a flagging workforce happy, so bosses are now looking at investing in the wellbeing of their staff by offering alternative therapy and counselling to team members within work time. THE HANDS-ON APPROACH It’s commonplace in many companies to have a masseuse regularly visit the office. One by one, workers spirit themselves away for a massage in a quiet corner
“THERE WILL ALWAYS BE THE ODD DAY WHEN YOU WOULD RATHER WALK OVER HOT COALS THAN SPEND ANOTHER SECOND AT YOUR DESK”
of the office or an unused meeting room, only to emerge half an hour later feeling energised and ready to calmly face the rest of the day. Some companies organise lunchtime yoga sessions to de-stress staff and to help ease the physical and mental pressure of being seated for long periods. Lunch time yoga sessions can be a great source of midday stress relief (and are far more productive than a liquid lunch!). FACTORING ‘CHILL-OUT’ INTO THE TIMESHEETS Some companies go one step further and offer Reiki healing to the workforce. Reiki is a technique which focuses on promoting relaxation and decreasing stress by concentrating on unblocking chakras, which are the specific areas of the body that energy flows through. Reiki can work wonders for the mind, body and spirit, clearing the mind and increasing energy levels. In some particularly stressful jobs, companies even go as far as scheduling in regular counselling sessions, either in person or over the phone, for employees in an attempt to keep them on an even keel whilst they deal with the trials and tribulations of everyday office life. A BIT OF TLC REAPS HUGE REWARDS With any form of therapy, the underlying message that emerges for staff is that the company cares about their wellbeing. And, as a result, the extra hours are easier to accept as being part a give-and-take relationship. Aside from the psychological wellbeing of staff, there is no denying that long hours hunched over a computer will eventually result in back problems and RSI. Many companies are also investing in ergonomic furniture and devices to ensure that monitors and laptops are positioned comfortably. A HAPPY SHIP IS A PROFITABLE SHIP Far from being wasted time and money from a company’s point of view, the investment in stress management and office ergonomics pays off tenfold. Sick days due to stress and back problems are reduced significantly, keeping productivity consistent and alleviating the need to pay for temporary support staff. What’s more, the overall company morale is raised on a constant level, not just for the day or two after a big team-building bash, highlighting once again that refreshed workers result in refreshing work. Article courtesy of www.cmd-ltd.com