By Dr. Frantz Belot, Ph.D.
This blog post is part two of a series on helping workers during times of economic uncertainty. The first post in the series can be found here: Four Simple Ways To Increase Employee Morale, Productivity And Retention During Times Of Economic Uncertainty.
Employees in 2022 are experiencing stress like never before. In fact, in a recent survey, workers in the U.S. said that the “all-time high level of stress is having an effect on employees’ overall well-being, with deteriorating financial health impacting both mental health (77%) and physical well-being (52%).”
This assessment survey says that those experiencing economic and financial stress lose more than 11 hours of productivity each week. And, because 72% of employees are stressed about their finances, U.S. companies lose $4 billion each week due to this stress.
Add to this that “50% of employees have left roles due to declining mental health” since 2020, and it becomes clear that employers need to help employees reduce workplace stress.
So, how do you reduce stress in the workplace and retain top talent?
Train employees
The Society for Human Resource Management says that employee training can help to prevent stress, especially when the training is focused on employee well-being. Employees going through training programs or training courses on topics such as mental health, financial management, improving well-being and coping with stress, are more likely to experience a reduction in stress levels.
A properly focused employee training program will offer existing team members or new employees the opportunity to foster a greater sense of purpose. In addition, these learning experiences will help develop your workforce and help them become more efficient at their job.
The fact of the matter is that training is the #1 way businesses communicate with their employees. Therefore, nearly every communication or training tool – from email to in-person meetings to online learning modules or mobile learning should focus on training and empowering employees to do their jobs more effectively.
When a worker is empowered and engaged, they are fulfilled, they are profitable and they are more easily retained. Never underestimate the training solutions or learning paths you provide for your staff. The training experience should go beyond checking a box or meeting compliance training requirements. There is so much to gain from a well-trained employee.
Employee Engagement – Instilling Purpose and Hope
A significant component of empowering and engaging employees through communication and training is to help them understand their purpose and feel that it is meaningful. Nearly 2 out of every 5 employees say they are “seeking greater mission and purpose from work” and more than 1 in 5 say that they don’t find their work meaningful or don’t feel hopeful about their future.
Instilling a sense of purpose will help to motivate and engage employees. Productivity increases as employees understand there is meaning to their daily tasks. Reinforcing this purpose regularly through the consistent delivery of intentionally-developed communication and training content will engage employees, reduce burnout, reduce stress and increase well-being.
Employee Development Starts with Communication
An article in the Harvard Business Review says that employees are three times more likely to be engaged when managers communicate with them on a daily basis. In fact, regular and transparent communication provides a feeling of stability within any organization. Employees feel they have more control and opportunity even when the information is not ideal.
On the other hand, lack of communication leaves employees feeling stressed, uncertain and unsure.
Effective organizations are purposeful in the messages they deliver to employees, controlling the narrative that is heard. As a result, they can show empathy, provide resources and assure employees that they are doing what they can to help them to cope in times of economic uncertainty or financial stress.
Training, Engagement and Communication
By implementing these three secrets, organizations will help their employee reduce stress and find that they are more likely to retain top talent and increase employee morale.
Click here to speak with a Tyfoom consultant to learn more about how you can better engage, communicate and train your employees in real-time using customizable on-demand training via our mobile app.