Workplace tension: Does it motivate or dibilitate?
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Healthcare professionals in England are reporting a dramatic rise in worry and distress, resulting in a record number of the workforce being signed off sick, some for exyended periods. And the UK is one illustration of a trend that is repeated across the developed world. Victoria Fletcher, Health Editor of the Daily Mirror revealed that a survey of over 250 doctors found that tension is the most likely cause of ill health.
It's true that even though 76% of employers agree, health professionals are blaming the growth on busnisses for not taking the well-being of their workforce seriously. That's because employee health and well being is only fourth on the list of priorities of most employers. Laging behind attracting staff, keeping them motivated and complying with legislation. There seems to be a fine line between keeping an employee motivated and applying just too much pressure. This fine line was acknowledged by Bill Callaghan, Chair of the Health and Safety Commission, when he said, "Pressure is part and parcel of all work and helps to keep us motivated. But excessive pressure can lead to worry which undermines performance, is costly to employers and can make people ill."
When this 'motivation/pressure' threshold has been reached staff begin to show symptoms of stress. This causes performance levels to decrease and as a result more pressure is applied. It can then become a vicious circle, spiralling down until something gives. And give it does. One in three doctors has noticed a rise in people asking to be signed off for more than seven days because of tension related problems. The CBI disclosed that the average public sector worker takes 8.5 days off sick every year ay a cost of ?13 billion a year. That's a staggering ?531 per employee and it's the employer that's paying the price. The problem is that the survey revealed that 85% of employers believe that "busy GP's are too ready to sign off patients as sick" and that "healthcare professionals sign off people far too quickly".
At a cost of ?531 per employee year it's not surprising the many employers are investing in their own solutions. Although expensive, some now have therapists on their payroll, whose purpose is to reduce worry and lower absenteeism. Many have opted to provide employees with stress reduction CD's. Just Google stress, talking cure, talking treatment or online talking therapy and your find sites like talkingcures.org offering tension reducing mp3 downloads that people can listen to should they they feel the need. There is also a new approach to help employers work with their employees to manage the risks from work-related stress, available from the Health and Safety Executive. This self-help approach to improve employee's health has approval from the highest level of government, Jane Kennedy, Minister for Work, said, "This is a highly practical example of what can be done to demonstrate how easy it can be to reduce the causes of work related tension."
Getting the motivation/pressure balance right has a profound effect on the profitability of the business. Apart from promoting staff health and well-being, as an business it makes sound financial sense to give your employees some form of help to redress the balance. And as a staff member, isn't it time to take control of your working environment and reduce tension levels so that you can be relaxed and enjoy work again?
Article Source: Articlelogy.com
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