Here at Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency, we pride ourselves in helping you with your business insurance policy. That’s not all that we want to help with, though. We want to aid you in running your business effectively and efficiently – we want your business to be at its best. That is why we write blog posts about all aspects of the day to day process of running a business.

In today’s blog, we want to discuss a topic that affects most every business: the stress level of employees. It is your job as a business owner to make sure that your employees are being productive, but uncontrolled stress could be negatively affecting your employees, and the quality of their work. If you have noticed that your employees are more stressed than usual, try executing one or more of the following tips to reduce employee stress level:

Learn the signs of excessive stress

The first step in dealing with the stress levels in your employees is being able to identify when one of your workers is feeling overwhelmed. Here are some of the most common signs of workplace stress:

• Feeling anxious, irritable, or depressed.
• Loss of interest in work.
• Problems sleeping.
• Fatigue and trouble concentrating.
• Social withdrawal.

If you see any of your employees exhibiting these symptoms, you should realize that you may have a stress-related issue. Start helping your employees with their stress as soon as you can to avoid any long term issues.

Support mental and physical health in the workplace

Being healthy in both mind and body will help employees perform at their best, and can even go as far as to reduce employee’s stress levels. As a business owner, you can help promote a healthy environment by enacting workplace rules and by providing ergonomic chairs and desks for your employees.

Just make sure to let your business insurance agent know if you make any large purchase for your workplace – a quick update to the coverage in your business insurance policy will ensure that your new furniture is covered in the event of a covered peril.

Recognize even the small achievements

Your employees might feel less stressed out if they know that you appreciate the work that they do. Instead of expecting or demanding consistent production – and making stress levels skyrocket – appreciate an employee when they provide exemplary results. As the saying goes, you attract more flies with honey than you do with vinegar. In the same vein, a positive attitude toward good work will leave employees more satisfied than if they feel like giving less than 100% will get them in trouble.

Let employees know about the resources available to them

If you provide a health package as a part of your business insurance or workers compensation package, do your due diligence and research what options stressed employees have as a part of the plan you offer. In most cases, there is a hotline available where your employees can talk to a professional about their issues. Make sure that this information is posted in a central location (like a lounge or break room), and send out an email to all employees at key times of the year, like around their annual review.

Remember, Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency is always here for you and your business. If you have any questions about your Massachusetts business insurance policy, all you have to do is call 617-298-0655 and speak to one of our knowledgeable agents.