Emotional factors that could be affecting your workplace efficiency

The workplace can be a stressful environment, there are often tight deadlines, daily and weekly targets; it really can be a fast-paced and adrenaline driven setting. Consequently, employees can become anxious, exhausted and stressed, which in turn can affect their overall efficiency and productivity. We’re going to address some of the key factors that can cause these particular feelings and how you and your company can alleviate them.

 Bullying

Sadly, bullying isn’t exclusive to the confines of the playground, indeed an increasing number of cases occur in the workplace. They usually involve the ongoing harassment, humiliation and social exclusion of an individual and, unsurprisingly, this can damage the physical, emotional and mental health of the targeted person. As a result, they may think about quitting or become withdrawn and depressed.

What can you do?

Prevent this kind of behavior with the implementation of a well-defined harassment policy which makes it abundantly clear that it will not be tolerated and those who are found guilty will be dismissed. Regularly talk to your employees, be a boss they can trust and confide in, hold regular staff meetings to discuss any issues that may arise. Moreover, organize team-building exercises to allow workplace friendships to flourish.

 Drugs or alcohol

 Worryingly, some employees attend work under the influence of drugs or alcohol. They may even drink during working hours (lunchtime breaks, company functions). Signs can include lateness, sleeping on the job, a dip in all-round work performance, poor decision making, low morale and even theft. In other cases, an employee could be suffering from the after-effects of alcohol or drug use (hangovers etc.). This can affect their ability to concentrate and the capability to carry out their tasks as normal.

What can you do?

 If you feel the problem is severe and persistent, it may be best to refer your staff member to a counseling program or promote initiatives that focus on improving health. If you suspect that one or more of your employees are abusing drugs or alcohol, you could even organize a drug-testing scheme to firmly establish a zero tolerance policy. For instance, an oral fluid lab test could be performed on a regular basis to detect the presence of drugs or alcohol amongst your workforce.

Burnout

Staff can get burnt out; whether it’s due to relentless overtime, long commutes, a lack of breaks or a heavy workload. These can leave employees feeling worn out, anxious and pushed to the absolute limit. It can even compromise their decision-making abilities and general overall performance, which can be detrimental, especially if they work in an environment where healthy and safety is essential (construction, mining, medical professions etc.).

What can you do?

Ensure that your staff have frequent breaks; schedule them in if you have to, allow them to leave the office for a 10-minute walk. Make sure that your departments aren’t understaffed and that employees aren’t taking on more work than they need to. Try not to set unrealistic and unachievable deadlines. Most importantly, appreciate and motivate your staff so they don’t feel undervalued and demoralized. Finally, encourage vacation days, add incentives and limit overtime in order to increase their workplace fulfillment and contentment.

It’s important to remember that work plays a big role in most peoples lives; they spend a significant proportion of their life in the workplace so guarantee that it’s a healthy and happy environment to be in.