Stress has become a big issue in the modern workplace, no matter what sector you work in, and the recent global economic recession has added to the strain that employees might be working under and that you, as their manager, have to deal with the fallout from.
Stress in the workplace manifests itself in a number of different ways. There can be a mood of general unhappiness among staff, resulting in poor productivity and workplace performance. Teamwork, critical to the effective functioning of a workplace, can be affected if one or more team members are under stress or if the whole team becomes stressed, leading to tension and arguments among colleagues who, under normal circumstances, would get along perfectly fine. Absenteeism can become an issue, with stressed staff members making excuses not to come into work or experiencing health issues arising from stress that prevent them from being able to come to work. A particular risk for employees working in a high-pressure environment is substance abuse. Employees might feel that they cannot cope with the stress caused by the workplace and turn to alcohol and drugs for quick relief. Someone under the influence of drugs at work poses a risk not only to themselves but also to those around them. Fortunately for management and employers, there are solutions available for combating potential substance abuse in the workplace. An oral fluid lab test is an easy way of determining if employees are under the influence of drugs at work.
Introducing such a program into the workplace requires the consent and cooperation of employees. If you are a proactive manager who engages positively with employees then you are in a position to persuade those working alongside you that a drug-testing regime is one that will be to the benefit of everyone. You have won the trust and support of your colleagues, and are therefore able to discuss a drugs testing regime in terms of the provision of a safe environment to work in. You will also be able to make the promise that anyone with substance abuse issues will be supported in their efforts to tackle those problems head on, and ultimately get their career back on track.
Causes of stress in the workplace can include the setting of unrealistic deadlines by management, a lack of communication between management and employees, and between employees themselves. Bullying, as well as the absence of teamwork, with individual staff members or managers feeling that they have to assume more responsibilities and work than they are capable of handling, can also be put under this category. It is vital that management identify possible sources of workplace stress and get to grips with them before they start to cause real damage to workplace morale and productivity.
In conclusion, it cannot be emphasized enough how important it is to initiate policies that deal proactively with workplace stress, to encourage employees to be forthcoming about any problems they might have, and to assure them that management takes those problems seriously and with the sensitivity that they merit.
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