A high level of stress will pose a risk to our health, but sadly the effects of burnout on organizational performance are less commonly acknowledged. Stress will temporarily impair strategic reasoning and dulls the creative process, and it will also triple the risk that someone will leave their job. Burnout consequently poses a threat to the bottom line, it even costs the United States of America more than $300 billion each year in absenteeism, turnover, lower productivity, and costs for insurance, legal counsel, and medical care.

More and more companies are becoming more, and this is the reason why the workplace wellness market grows significantly each year. Personal perks like on-site gyms and nap rooms are helpful, but they are not the answer to our problem. In a recent study, researchers found that, contrary to expectations, wellness initiatives usually fail to reduce health care expenses and absenteeism within a year or two. This study adds to the corpus of work that suggests these initiatives are not as successful as we think they are.

Employers could instead implement organizational-level stress-reduction techniques that support worker welfare while simultaneously boosting business success. Despite this might seem impossible, it is not. As a manager, you can learn what you can do to prevent burnout in your employees which will also reduce workplace stress and increase employee engagement. Read on to find out how you can do it!

Create a Work Environment That Decreases Stress

When put in a high-stress situation, such as one brought on by vague expectations, too many deadlines, or a busy workplace, employees are prone to entering fight-or-flight mode. This is the process our bodies go through when we feel threatened. The more emotional areas of our brains will take over, which then will weaken the part of our brain for long-term planning, strategic thinking, and innovation. We eventually burn out if we stay in this state for too long. To prevent this effect, you must establish a secure workplace and incorporate stress management techniques into your team’s regular activities.

You can also do things such as hiring an office cleaning service to help maintain the tidiness of your office. Less decluttering in your office will help to make sure your workspace becomes a place that helps to promote employee productivity and decrease stress.

Increase psychological safety

If your team members feel threatened at work, it will be impossible to build the trust necessary for them to collaborate effectively and develop. To prevent this, as a manager you can do something within your capacity to increase psychological safety feeling in your employee. First, what you can do is to be clear about your aims by giving your employees reasonable objectives. Second, make sure everyone is aware of your desire for their voices to be heard and that they all experience a sense of having had their views heard. This can be achieved by promoting participation in meetings and having brainstorming sessions. Third, establish a challenging yet secure work atmosphere. Let your employee know that it’s okay to fail. Team members that think beyond the box should be praised, and you should solicit feedback from your workers to demonstrate your appreciation.

Break times is important

The human brain can concentrate for roughly 90 to 120 minutes before needing a break. As a result, you should encourage your employees to stand up from their desks every couple of hours and take a break from heavy tasks that they have to work on. Encourage them to take a short break, send out calendar invites that act as reminders to take breaks, and try to lead by example. This is especially important if they have recently attended a number of long meetings. If your staff allows their minds to wander and relax, they will have the mental space they need to perform well on a regular basis.

Provide private space for your employees

Open workspaces are more prone to experience distractions, which increases stress and lowers productivity among employees. If your business doesn’t have any private spaces where employees may relax or focus, you might want to think about instituting “silent hours” or using signals like “do not disturb” signs when necessary.

Set boundaries around time outside of work

A study found that staff members experience increased anxiety when it is expected that they will be available to answer emails outside of usual work hours. To combat this, create clear rules that employees do not have to respond to work communication, during their break or holiday. 

These are some of the things that you can do as a manager to prevent burnout within your office. This will definitely help to create a safe workspace for all, which will help to increase productivity and lower the chance of retention among the employees.