TACKLING FACTORS THAT CREATE WORKPLACE STRESS

Identifying the risks is your first step. Conduct employee surveys, interview managers, and calculate physical risks involved in performing certain job tasks (anything from ergonomic office equipment to safely equipment used when lifting, packing, and moving heavy objects).



After have identified areas the need improvement, you should:

• Determine if steps are currently being taken to fix issues
• Research past solutions and their results
• Determine what else needs to be done
• Measure your results
• Review changes as they occur and at different times during restructuring to see the results and if they are appropriate (conduct additional surveys)
• Prepare an assessment report and monitor new processes from time to time to make sure they are working

USING CURRENT PSYCHOSOCIAL FACTORS TO PREDICT NEW ONES:

You can never predict what the outcome of change will be. New problems may arise after changes have been made which you will have to address. Preparing in advance by thoroughly researching the causes of stress and increased health issues at your company will make it easier for you to alter changes once they have been made.
All companies should assess their workplace environment at least twice a year in order to see where improvements can be made. Staying in contact with employees and managers can help you track changes and find areas that are in need of change in order to create a positive workplace environment.

About the author: Dakotta J.K. Alex, social networking director and author of “Damn, I Need a Job. Again!” and “The Recruiters Guide Book,” is a Global HR Solutions Consultant specializing in human capital recruitment, process management and career analysis in the US, Europe and China. Dakotta and his team are always looking for challenging projects.