6 Ways to Lower Employee Stress in Your Colorado Office

Employee Stress in Your Office Strains Businesses’ Bottom Lines

Are you searching for ways to lower employee stress in your Southern Colorado office? If so, you are not alone. Stress may be an unavoidable part of life, but the past four years enduring the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic and social rollercoasters have brought on an increase in stress-related disorders.

According to the American Institute of Stress, the workplace reveals to be the primary driver of stress for Americans . Not only can stress have serious mental and physical consequences for workers, but it also costs the companies that employ them approximately $300 billion every year, according to some estimates.

As such, if you are a business owner in Colorado Springs, implementing ways to lower employee stress in your office and creating a health-promoting workplace should be a top priority. Here are six steps that employers can take to lower stress in the office and increase their workforce’s well-being, happiness, and productivity.

Establishing and Promoting Wellness Programs to Lower Employee Stress

Colorado employers can lower employee stress by establishing and incentivizing participation in wellness programs.

Wellness programs can take many forms, ranging from classes and seminars to simply encouraging folks to take the stairs instead of the elevator.

You might consider:

• Subsidizing gym memberships or providing a fitness center for employees
• Having a fitness or yoga instructor conduct lunchtime classes once a week
• Offering incentive-driven wellness competitions
• Keeping healthy snacks in the break room or vending machines
• Keeping employees hydrated throughout the day by providing easy access to fresh, great-tasting water
• Promoting Colorado’s Bike to Work days in February and June

Be Flexible

Much of workplace stress relates to juggling all of life’s non-work responsibilities while also spending most of the day in the office. Try to provide some flexibility in scheduling, whether that means giving folks some time off to take care of other business or allowing them to telecommute from time to time.

Encourage Socializing to Lower Employee Stress

Human beings are social creatures. We turn to others for support, knowledge, and laughter. Shooting the breeze with colleagues in the break room, saying hello as you pass each other in the hallway – all of these moments make the workday more enjoyable and less stressful. Socializing gives Colorado workers a sense of belonging and an opportunity to let off steam. Camaraderie makes the workplace more pleasant and, thus, less stressful.

Provide Access and Encourage the Use of Mental Health Resources

To effectively lower employee stress, you may need to provide your workers with the needed resources to address their mental health concerns.

In a White House Briefing dated May 22, 2022, three of the top five reasons listed for why Americans avoid or delay seeking mental health services were (1) they cannot afford the services, (2) they don’t know where to go, and (3) their health insurance did not cover enough of the costs associated with mental health.

All three of these reasons can be easily addressed with a phone call or email to your company’s group health insurance broker. Your broker will explain the services available under your plan and the co-payments or other costs associated with seeking treatment. If your plan does not currently offer mental health resources for your employees, consider changing your plan when up for renewal. (Another thing your group health insurance broker can help you with.)

Lighten Up

Yes, lighten up could be taken figuratively as well, but in this case, we mean taking a hard look at the lighting, design, decor and general appearance of your office. No one wants to spend eight hours a day in a depressing, dark, colorless environment. After addressing lighting, providing simple ways to briefly release some stress throughout the day, such as great break room with comfortable seating, games, and premium coffee machines and break room supplies can drastically improve the feel of your entire office and lower employee stress.

Resolving Office Tech Issues May Lower Employee Stress

One study recently found that 49% of employees cite technology issues as a major reason for seeking other employment. That should give you a clear picture of how office technology headaches can cause anxiety for your staff. To lower employee stress and combat this trend in your workplace, take the time now to address any technology deficiencies that you have (from a copier that jams regularly to network security issues). Employees who know that their software and equipment will work properly when they login will be happier in the long run.

Colorado Pure – Taking the Stress Out of Office Coffee and Break Room Refreshments

At Colorado Pure, we take the stress out of giving your employees the purest, highest quality water, and the finest brewing equipment and coffee available in Colorado Springs. Our team members are passionate about customer service and have a well-earned reputation for consistency, reliability, and trustworthiness.

To find out how you can make your company’s break room a driver of increased productivity and lower stress, please contact us for a free break room refreshment consultation.