7 unique ways to address stress in the workplace
October 16, 2013 6:44 PM
1. No jerks allowed
Employer Limeade has a No Jerks hiring policy in place to make sure all its employees are happy, healthy, and high performing. A recent job posting for the enterprise engagement company wrote that the candidate must be Nice: Life is too short to work with jerks. Other companies have even let go top performers who didn't promote teamwork or fit the company culture.
2. A very different CFO
The title of Chief Fun Officer at the Toronto office of Dimension Data Canada Inc. is bestowed upon an employee whos willing to create fun at the organization. CFOs are given a budget to organize monthly activities, such as paintball or bowling, according to Bob Nelsons bestseller 1501 Ways to Reward Employees.
3. Take advantage of vacation days
Most Americans will forego an average of 9.2 paid vacation days in 2013, according to a 2012 Harris Interactive poll conducted for Hotwire.com. Employees who periodically recharge or unwind away from the office improve their emotional and physical well-being. Employers can encourage workers to take their PTO with these innovative ideas, such as offering additional vacation as a reward for outstanding performance, innovation, solutions to challenges.
4. Mental health days
To encourage a more balanced work life, employees at Eddie Bauer, the clothing store chain based in Bellevue, WA, are allowed to call in well and take time off. Eddie Bauer and the employers in the following slides shared their success stories in Nelsons 1501 Ways to Reward Employees.
5. Support new-parents
Starting a family while managing a career can be challenging for new parents. Ernst & Young provides a coach to counsel the mother before she begins maternity leave and talk about what life will be like once the baby comes and how to manage work and life when she is ready to return. She is also paired with a mentor internally who has been a successful working mother.
6. Be social
There are no televisions in break rooms at Nugget Market locations, which help to develop deeper interpersonal relationships among workers.
7. Travel together
Instead of just encouraging employees to use their vacation time, why not take the whole company on a trip? Dominy & Associates, a top San Diego architectural firm, takes all 25 employees and a guest of their choice on an all-expense-paid, week-long skiing trip to Mammoth, CA. They always stop along the way to tour one of the buildings the firm had built or renovated, adding to the sense of pride and team-building the trip creates.
