How to prevent work-related stress in companies: 6 effective strategies

We analyze which prevention strategies can help alleviate stress rates in the company.

Stress is an increasingly common condition in society, especially in large cities. It is an alteration of the organism, where we are overwhelmed by the demands of the environment. When this is due to work, we talk about work stress.

In this article we will know what this alteration consists of, and we will talk about how to prevent work-related stress in companies.. To do so, we will offer 6 proposals that companies can apply to prevent stress among their workers.

Stress and work stress: what are they?

Stress is a psychophysiological state of the organism, which appears when the demands of the environment exceed the resources available to us. Sometimes the term "anxiety" is used to refer to how we feel in highly stressful moments.

Stress can appear in different areas of life, be it personal, social, work-related... When it manifests itself in the work environment (i.e. when it appears as a consequence of work), we speak of "work-related stress". It is known that up to 59% of Spanish workers suffer from work-related stress, which has a negative impact on the quality of life.This has negative repercussions on the health of the person, but also on their productivity, quality of life, etc.

Work stress is due to multiple factors: long working hours, high demands from the company, few hours of sleep, having a self-demanding personality, not fulfilling objectives, accumulated fatigue, etc.

When this stress is very high and appears together with other symptoms, then we speak of "burnout" or "burnout syndrome". In fact, this syndrome has been recognized by the WHO (World Health Organization) as an official syndrome.

Its characteristic symptom is professional burnout, which translates into physical and emotional exhaustion. But we are talking about more extreme cases than simple work stress; that is why it is important to prevent the latter, to prevent it from leading to burnout syndrome.

How to prevent work-related stress in companies

But, how to prevent work-related stress in companies? Is it possible?

In this article we will offer some proposals to prevent it, oriented to be applied by the companies themselves.

1. Campaigns that promote sports

The first proposal we put forward on how to prevent work-related stress in companies, and which may be a good idea, is that that companies offer their workers campaigns or programs aimed at promoting sports among their employees.. These can consist of planning certain sports activities throughout the year (e.g. once a week). The activities could be: yoga, cycling, basketball, soccer... There is a wide variety of sports to choose from.

These activities should ideally be group activities, involving as many employees as possible. From them, the aim is for workers to acquire healthy lifestyle habits through sport; in turn, sport is a good tool to prevent and combat work-related stress, as it helps to release tension and secrete endorphins.

In addition, this type of activity can also be a good option to strengthen the bond between workers, enhance social relations and promote a good working environment.

2. Daily fruit in the office

This second proposal, also related to the previous one, offers another perspective on how to prevent work-related stress in companies. It is aimed, like the previous one, at promoting healthy habits among employees.. Thus, nutrition is another key element to achieve this lifestyle.

Healthy lifestyles help prevent work-related stress, whether inside or outside the workplace. In addition, it is known that food has a strong influence on mood and energy. The initiative of providing free fruit to workers, although it may seem a small gesture, can encourage other healthy behaviors in them.

Mindfulness sessions

Mindfulness is, in turn, a philosophy of life, a healthy practice and a type of therapy. It consists of the practice of meditation, a state reached through concentration; meditation allows to "leave the mind blank" and reach a sense of peace and fullness, through breathing and relaxation exercises. Thus, mindfulness is a very good tool to prevent stress.

The idea of proposing a mindfulness program within companies can also be a good option on how to prevent work stress in companies. This program can consist of a weekly session of mindfulness in a space enabled within the company, or outside it (in an open space). (in an open space). These details will depend on the preferences and availability of resources of each company.

4. Massage sessions

This proposal, like some of the previous ones, is already being implemented by many companies, as it is considered innovative and healthy. Through it, a service of masseurs and/or physiotherapists is contracted to come to the office to give a short massage to the workers (e.g., 15 to 30 minutes). (for example, between 15 minutes and 30 minutes). These sessions can be spaced out (e.g. once a week, once a month...), depending on each company.

The type of massage is usually on the neck and head, but can also cover other areas (although in the office the most feasible is neck and head). These massages can produce a state of relaxation in the worker, although it is of short duration. Feeling good and comfortable in the office can prevent incipient feelings of stress or anxiety. In addition, this practice would allow to "break" with the routine even for a short time.

5. Training in relaxation techniques

Another proposal we make on how to prevent work-related stress in companies has to do with relaxation techniques. Companies can schedule trainings for workers that explain different relaxation techniques; ideally, these can be applied within the office, at a time of certain wear and tear or stress, or simply every so often.

There are exercises that can be performed in the same office chair, or in another place depending on the type of relaxation technique.or in another place depending on the type of work; these can be breathing exercises and/or meditation. They can last a few minutes and can be applied when necessary. In addition, they will allow to maintain an adequate rhythm in the work, productive, but at the same time relaxed.

6. Ergonomics training

The last proposal we put forward on how to prevent work-related stress in companies is training in ergonomics, a discipline within the field of occupational hazards.a discipline within the field of occupational hazards. Although training in occupational hazards is mandatory for workers in all companies, it is sometimes not sufficiently taken into account.

In addition, it is a good option to teach special ergonomics sessions, this discipline in particular, which teaches us how to sit correctly to avoid injuries or contractures, how to work, what is the right temperature inside the office, what environmental conditions are the most suitable, etc.

Adequate working conditions, at an environmental level, as well as a correct knowledge of how to work, will allow the worker to be at ease (preventing work stress), comfortable, not to get hurt and to be most productive.

Bibliographic references:

• Fino, R. (2016). How to prevent work stress. Superrhheroes Sesame.

• WHO (2000). ICD-10. International classification of diseases, tenth edition. Madrid. Panamericana.

• Peiró, J.M. and Rodríguez, I. (2008). Job stress, leadership and organizational health. Papeles del psicólogo, 29(1): 68-82.