How Stressed Are You?

November 13, 2007 – 9:23 am

I found this interesting website: http://www.compsych.com/jsp/en_US/core/home/index.jsp?cid=1 by following a link in this month’s Employer’s Association newsletter. I like to read this newsletter because it gives me some insight into HR and payroll issues in the private sector. I found this particular news story on the disconnect between managers and employees on strees in the work place to be an interesting read. What do you think?

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Jennifer Hudson
ComPsych® Corporation
(312) 595-4048
www.compsych.com

Stress Disconnect: 60 Percent of Employees Report High Levels of Stress; Managers Beg to Differ
Only 45 Percent of Managers Perceive Workers as Highly Stressed

CHICAGO – Jun. 25, 2007 – The majority of employees report having high levels of stress, while less than half of managers think their workers are highly stressed, according to ComPsych’s StressPulse SM survey. ComPsych Corporation is the world’s largest provider of employee assistance programs and the worldwide leader in GuidanceResources (EAPs, behavioral health, work-life, wellness and crisis intervention services).

“The results of this study suggest managers may be kidding themselves in terms of their workers’ stress levels,” said Dr. Richard A. Chaifetz, chairman and CEO of ComPsych. “Employee stress is not always outwardly visible in the workplace. Rather, it often manifests itself in increased absences and reduced productivity.

“Managers should be attuned to employee workloads and stress levels, and should ensure employees are aware of available support services,” he added. “This can include employee assistance and work-life programs, which help employees better manage stress and work-life balance.”

HR managers were asked: Do you believe your workforce is stressed?

45 percent Said employees have high levels of stress
42 percent Said employees have constant but manageable stress levels
13 percent Said employees have low stress levels

Employees’ StressPulse Results – First Half, 2007

Stress Levels Point Change from 2H06
60 percent Have high levels of stress, with extreme fatigue/feeling out of control
+5
33 percent Have constant but manageable stress levels
-9
7 percent Have low stress levels
+4
Work Priorities
57 percent See accomplishing basic responsibilities as most important
0
25 percent See being present as most important
0
18 percent See performance improvement as most important
0
Causes of Stress
35 percent Cite people issues
-1
37 percent Cite workload
-1
18 percent Cite juggling work and personal life
-4
10 percent Cite lack of job security
+6
Impact of Stress Upon Daily Productivity
42 percent Lose 1 hour or more per day in productivity due to stress
+2
35 percent Lose 15 – 30 min. per day in productivity due to stress
-3
23 percent Report productivity is unaffected by stress
+1
Impact of Stress Upon Attendance
Point Change from 2H06
49 percent Miss 1 to 2 days per year due to stress
+2
30 percent Miss 3 to 6 days per year due to stress
-3
21 percent Miss more than 6 days per year due to stress
+1
Impact of Stress Upon Effectiveness
56 percent Come to work 1 to 4 days per year when too stressed to be effective
+8
22 percent Come to work 5 or more days per year when too stressed to be effective
-3
22 percent Say stress does not impact effectiveness
-5
Impact of Personal Tasks Upon Daily Productivity
52 percent Lose less than 30 min. per day due to personal tasks
-10
25 percent Lose 30 min. per day due to personal tasks
+12
23 percent Lose more than 1 hour per day due to personal tasks
-2
Most Common Reasons for Absences
40 percent Cite stress and personal relationship issues
-6
41 percent Cite medical reasons/illness (self)
+3
19 percent Cite caregiving responsibilities
+3
Coping Strategies for Stress
62 percent Take frequent “stress breaks” at work to talk with others
-4
28 percent Work harder
+4
10 percent Take a day off
0

The StressPulse survey was conducted from April 1 to May 2, 2007, receiving responses from employees of more than 1,000 ComPsych client companies nationwide.
About ComPsych
Founded in 1984, ComPsych is the world’s largest provider of employee assistance programs and is the leading provider of fully integrated EAP, behavioral health, work-life, wellness, crisis intervention services and outsourced HR solutions under the GuidanceResources brand. ComPsych provides services to more than 25 million individuals and 10,000 organizations throughout the U.S. and 92 countries. Clients range from the Fortune 500 to smaller public and private concerns as well as government entities and Taft-Hartley groups. ComPsych creates “Build-to-Suit” programs which help employers attract and retain employees as well as improve employee productivity and performance. For more information, visit www.compsych.com
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