Stress Awareness Month in April sparked a flurry of digital discussions that delved into the origins of workplace stress, and techniques to cope with it. Among these was the LinkedIn Learning’s Stress at Work Report, which surveyed 2,843 employed individuals to create an all-encompassing summary of workplace stress.
The study’s findings revealed a shocking statistic: 49% of employed individuals attributed their stress to their job. This is a concerning issue not only for these individuals but also for their loved ones, who experience the effects of their stress on a daily basis. It is well-known that stress has a negative impact on productivity, and therefore it is worth noting that the belief that stress is necessary for peak performance is simply false.
The US economy suffers a significant annual loss of $300 billion due to workplace stress, according to estimates from the American Institute of Stress. This can be attributed to various factors – not just absenteeism – but also due to the prevalence of stress-induced illnesses such as headaches, stomach aches, and back pains that cause employees to miss work. Common symptoms of stress include forgetfulness, disorganization, difficulty concentrating, and insomnia. It is unsurprising that an overworked and anxious workforce tends to be less productive.
Although remote work may have advantages, it remains unclear how this approach can effectively mitigate the identified stressors. Thus, there is a need for deeper investigation into the root causes of stress to understand how remote work might be utilized to resolve the issue.
The Causes of Workplace Stress
LinkedIn Learning utilized a stress questionnaire in their survey that polled respondents on the specific aspects of their work life that led to the highest levels of anxiety. Upon evaluating the responses, the top five sources of workplace stress were identified as follows:
Work-Life Balance and Overload
Seventy percent of the survey participants acknowledged experiencing workplace stress. While categorized by LinkedIn Learning as a common issue, we perceive these concerns as separate problems.
Achieving a satisfactory work-life balance can prove to be a challenging task for many individuals. Although they crave career achievements, financial rewards, and personal fulfilment, they do not wish to compromise the precious time they spend with their loved ones. Working parents may miss out on their children’s school events, while young people may be unable to visit their sick or elderly relatives. Engaging in hobbies and passions is essential for restoring our vitality and emotional well-being. However, it is easy to feel overwhelmed due to hectic work schedules and commutes, leaving us drained and exhausted.
Granting employees a more flexible work schedule could be the key to resolving this matter. Providing options to work remotely, whether full-time or part-time, allows individuals to work during their most productive hours and dedicate time to other aspects of their life. Nonetheless, it is crucial to establish clear boundaries in the remote work policy, ensuring employee satisfaction and well-being.
Realistic expectations in regards to workload are crucial, regardless of whether employees work on-site or remotely. Nevertheless, research proves that remote workers tend to be more productive since they experience reduced stress from avoiding daily commutes and have more flexibility to put in extra working hours, such as during weekends or commutes. Hence, promoting remote working can significantly help employees manage their workload.
Hope for Future Prospects in Current Job (64%).
Telecommuting’s growing trend is clearly justified; it is envisioned to become the standard in the near future. Employees who are keen on working from any location bestow considerable benefits upon businesses in this rapidly globalizing world, in addition to contributing towards environmental efforts.
By conducting online interviews, organizations can secure the most talented candidates for employment, regardless of their location, and yet reduce expenses. This practice contributes not only to the organization’s future development and success but also to providing remote work experience for employees. Additionally, the flexibility that facilitated scheduling allows for also helps in retaining staff, making this a highly advantageous approach for businesses. Hence, remote interviews offer several benefits to organizations.
Life’s Purpose and Direction (64%).
If your business is encountering challenges, it is vital to contemplate seeking the services of management consultants, recognizing that remote working alone may be inadequate in resolving issues. We maintain that employees experiencing a sense of futility in their job duties are often the root causes of workplace stress. Consequently, seeking the aid of skilled professionals can be considerably helpful in combating this concern.
Individuals who work remotely tend to possess self-sufficiency qualities, rendering them less reliant on constant attention and guidance. Such independence is paramount for prospering as a successful remote worker. Moreover, sustaining regular communication within remote teams is critical to ensure that each member comprehends their tasks and responsibilities, avoiding any uncertainty or confusion. By providing adequate resources, any remote team constituent is competent to perform their job efficiently with all necessary information at hand.
Office Politics and Colleagues (63%).
Individuals who work remotely often lament the absence of informal chitchat that commonly occurs around the office water cooler, as per remote worker feedback. Nonetheless, solutions to address it are readily available via various applications and software tools at disposal; nevertheless, that does not solve it completely. Engaging with colleagues daily in a professional setup can often create interpersonal tensions.
Remote work inherently curtails interpersonal interactions, viewed both positively and negatively. While dispersed teams can maintain open communication channels, confronting a challenging colleague becomes easier when they are in another country. Written communication, instead of verbal or face-to-face, can reduce chances of misunderstandings or conflict but requires adherence to Hanlon’s Razor principle.
Capability to Employ Equipment Appropriate for the Task at Hand (62%).
Admittedly, employers would not appreciate paying their remote personnel for lounging around in their pyjamas all day; thus, furnishing them with the proper tools and resources to effectively execute their duties is paramount. Developers are dedicating significant effort and time to make remote work practical and comfortable for employees.
Works provides an expansive range of informative blog posts to empower your remote workforce with essential tools and techniques to optimize their work while ensuring positivity and comfort. Our posts encompass various aspects like chat, collaboration, version control, file-sharing, video conferencing, and much more, as per the requirements of your remote team members to help them accomplish their tasks effortlessly and receive recognition.
Calm Down, Leave it to Us
Taking the leap to collaborating with remote teams can feel overwhelming considering it involves hiring and managing individuals located in diversified geographic locations. If you are accustomed to a conventional, face-to-face working environment, the transition may seem intimidating. To assist in simplifying your switch, we have assembled a collection of blog posts designed to lead your distributed team efficiently.
Securing the finest talent for our organisation is our primary objective. We carry out an exhaustive assessment of each contender’s technical abilities and capacity to work remotely before presenting you with any candidate. Rest assured that if you are seeking to find the ideal candidate for your organisation, today is an excellent day to contact us and get informed further.
