Stress Might be Showing Your Employees the Door

Reading time: 3 – 4 minutes

What do you think are the top 5 reasons why employees voluntarily leave their company? Are the reasons the employees state the same as what the company thinks?

A study reported by HR.BR.com shows a significant difference in the #1 reason employees give for leaving a company vs. what the company believes is the reason for an employee’s departure. Why is it significant? The employee’s top reason doesn’t even hit the company’s radar screen. The remaining four reasons show up on both lists; with differing levels of importance.

Companies believe the #1 issue employees leave is over compensation issues, namely base pay. Employees state their primary reason for leaving is stress, base pay follows a close second. The survey includes over 13,000 employees and 946 companies.

Stress in the workplace is underestimated. Dr. David Weiman talks through the differences between good and bad stress. He discusses a number of signs bosses or employees can pick up in their every day interactions.

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s, Stress Coping: Stress in Today’s Workplace defines “job stress as the harmful and physical and emotional responses that occur when requirement of the job do not match the capabilities, resources, or needs of the worker.” They outline the job conditions that may lead to stress:

The design of tasks. Heavy workload, infrequent rest breaks, long work hours, and shiftwork are stressful. So are hectic and routine tasks that have little inherent meaning, do not utilize workers’ skills, and provide little sense of control.

Management style. Lack of participation by workers in decision-making, poor communication in the organization, lack of family-friendly policies.

Interpersonal relationships. Poor social environment and lack of support or help from coworkers and supervisors.

Work roles. Conflicting or uncertain job expectations, too much responsibility, too many “hats to wear.”

Career concerns. Job insecurity and lack of opportunity for growth, advancement, or promotion; rapid changes for which workers are unprepared.

Environmental conditions. Unpleasant or dangerous physical conditions such as crowding, noise, air pollution, or ergonomic problems.

Is Workplace Stress Necessary? posses Charlie Frograrth. According to him, no – it is manageable. He outlines a number of ways to reduce your stress level with work and your colleagues.

Stress is inevitable. How we decide to handle it is an individual choice. Next week, I’ll share with you one of the ways I am dealing with it.

Lynn Dessert owns Leadership Breakthrough, improving personal communication and influence one step at a time. Post your thoughts or email me!