I wrote that article back in 2005 (we published it in SafetyXChange last December). Today, four years later, the stress problem has only grown worse. Although the frightful economic climate of the past six months has contributed to the elevation of stress levels in workplaces, the deepening of the problem is rooted in fundamental causes not the least of which is the continuing failure of employers to tackle the problem.

The good news is that since my article first appeared more companies have come to recognize the effect of stress on the bottom line. The bad news is that recognition of the problem hasn’t bred action to combat it.

For example, in a 2008 Watson Wyatt survey, 48% of U.S. employers acknowledged that stress caused by long working hours was harming business. But only 5% said they’re acting to address the concern. Similarly, 29% agreed that technologies like cell phones and pagers that increase employees’ availability after hours was contributing to higher stress levels but only 6% reported doing anything to help employees deal with the problem.

Combating Workplace Stress

If you’re looking for ways to combat stress at your workplace, you might want to check out the audio-conference “Stress Management: Approaches to Preventing and Reducing Stress,” that will take place a week from tomorrow, May 6, at 1 PM, Eastern. In the interest of disclosure, the conference is being produced by Bongarde Media, the company that owns SafetyXChange.

But I’m not recommending the conference because of a pecuniary interest. I’ve heard the speaker, Jonathan Klane, and he’s both dynamic and full of practical insight that you can take back to your workplace and use to help your own employees deal with stress. People who sign up for the conference will also get a free copy of a report on the health effects of workplace stress from a fairly reputable little educational institution in New England called Harvard University.

If you want to check out or sign up for the conference, click on this link. And if you don’t want to pony up the $147 for the conference, that’s okay, too. The important thing is that you resolve, as a safety professional, to do something to persuade your own CEOs that workplace stress is a real problem that your company can’t afford to ignore.

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