Managing Stressed Employees in Difficult Economic Times
July 7, 2009, Jennifer Gimler Brady, Michael B. Rush
Today's economic crisis has an astounding impact on America's workforce, manifested in stress levels and productivity. The American Psychological Association and Workplace Options, a North Carolina benefits company, reports that almost half of all employees "feels stressed" over financial matters, and nearly as many feel less productive due to the current economic uncertainty. Aside from the decline in their personal financial portfolios, many employees are confronting what has become an almost constant threat to job security, as reductions in force are anticipated in many sectors throughout the year. With an unemployment rate of 8.5% and an underemployment rate exceeding 14%, the workplace can be a very stressful environment.