Invest in employee education and upgrading. This investment can greatly help workers to develop skills that are transferable to another job in the event of a layoff. Offer communication and conflict resolution programs to foster healthy relationships, sharpen negotiating skills and reduce confrontations. Provide physical activity and stress management programs to alleviate mental and physical stress. Provide flextime to allow employees to pursue stress-reducing endeavours such as physical activity at a convenient time during the day.
Some stress is perhaps necessary to boost productivity.
Too much stress, however, diverts valuable mental energy away from work issues. Reducing stress is therefore an important strategy for increasing productivity and improving employee health and morale.