Staff Welfare and the effects of stress
• Last year in Victoria , ( Australia ) the Workplace Authority spent $100 million in compensation and benefits to workers suffering from stress.
• In Japan they have invented a new word – “Karoshi” – Karoshi defines the regular activity of “death from overwork” (chasing productivity at the expense of balance and wellbeing).
• In North America and Western Europe studies have demonstrated a significant relationship between high job strain (high production demands with low levels of social support) and cardiovascular disease.
• In Australia it is estimated that 70% of all visits to the doctor are related to stress.
On these figures, it would seem, that stress is in excess, which becomes distress.
The old adage of “Work, Rest and Play” is replaced by “Work, More work and Exhaustion”.
The stress of pushing for constant productivity eventually results in a breaking down involving dissatisfaction, depression, leaving jobs to find ones with more meaning, or actual breakdowns. All in all the results are diminishing health, lower creativity, less productivity and unhappiness.
The focus needs to shift to a work-life balance where workers feel respected and valued for who they are and what they contribute.
Have you ever heard yourself saying: “One day I'm going to laugh about this” - then why wait?
Employees often feel like they have to not only ‘be serious and to work hard', but also to “look like” they are serious and working hard. This simply adds to the pressure by never allowing a period of release or being relaxed and whole. If people feel like they are respected and allowed to give of themselves to a task, then they are better able to do those tasks.
One way of helping staff to relax is to give them Laughter Sessions.
Laughter is a mechanism that gives us a break from anxiety, frustration, and irritations. Without this form of release, we can become increasingly serious and stressed.
Laughter can lighten the load. Laughter reduces stress; energises; reduces conflict and grievances; develops flow in communication and can help workplaces in times of change.
Milton Berle expressed it clearly when he commented that laughter is an “instant vacation”. Like a ‘power nap', you can give your staff a ‘power laugh'.
Albert Einstein recommended games to be “the most elevated form of investigation”.
Our Laughter Sessions can be geared to clearing stress and giving an outlet to pent up frustrations.
To re-establish balance, and to give your organisation a break from the normal work pressures, a half an hour session of natural, relaxed, guided laughter is an excellent ice-breaker which brings out the best in everyone.
Laughter Sessions promote group interaction and create a relaxed atmosphere. They can help in changing the culture of an organisation so that people feel like they can ‘be' themselves more while also focusing on their job. Laughter Sessions may also simply give the staff a moment of fun in an otherwise grinding routine.
A happy worker is a good worker - and a workplace with a sense of joy, is an organisation that is attractive both to its workforce and to its customers.
© Greg Govinda 2007
“High morale in workplaces leads to decreased stress levels and illness-related time off, as well as stimulating productivity”
- APS
“Employers who actively sustain a positive environment could experience up to 25% improvements in efficiency and customer satisfaction”
- Journal of Applied Psychology
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