Work-related stress can cause psychological and physical impacts – from difficulty making decisions and forgetfulness, to headaches, slow reactions, and indigestion, to irritability and other consequences.
What causes employee turnover?
A recent survey of 700 educators in Wyoming shows 12 percent intended to quit teaching at the end of this school year. Another 65 percent said they would quit but cannot due to financial or other reasons. The study, Wyoming Teacher Attrition (May 2022), is posted on the website of the Wyoming Education Association.
So why are teachers leaving the profession? One of the top reasons for teacher attrition is mental health challenges. Anxiety and depression lead to burnout, which often results in turnover.
Teachers are not the only workers facing burnout.
Prioritizing mental health is a proactive way to avoid burnout and reduce attrition.
A healthy workplace leads to healthy workers, which leads to a healthy bottom line. Health affects relationships and our ability to get stuff done at work.
“When employees are overworked or do not incorporate time for self-care, communication falters, trust is compromised and the ability for employees to work productively is swallowed by the need for distraction and relief,” [Source: Malone, L. (2022, July 6). Combatting Turnover, Burnout and Disengagement by Prioritizing Employee Mental Wellness. Newsweek.]
How employers can help reduce workplace stress.
- Be clear about roles and responsibilities
- Meet regularly with your team
- Increase flexibility in work schedules
- Communicate company vision
Organizations should regularly work on team building activities to understand how to interact with different leadership and workstyles.
2 simple ways to avoid burnout and find greater job satisfaction
- Back to basics: water, sunlight and fresh air.
Drink plenty of water – no matter your occupation. If you work indoors, take period breaks to get a breath of fresh air and sunlight. Research from the architectural industry shows workspaces with natural light create a more productive environment and improve the mood and satisfaction of employees and students.
- Body before business.
I was listening to the “most practical business podcast” recently, and this statement really resonated with me. Body before business means spending time each morning with some sort of self-care (exercise, prayer, journaling, etc.) You name it…just do it. Spending time on your own health – even before checking email, scrolling through social media – is an investment that will bring many happy returns.
Does it seem like your company or community is experiencing higher than normal employee turnover?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that labor turnover was relatively unchanged in May, at 3.9 percent. The survey measures total separations, which includes quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations.
“Quits are generally voluntary separations initiated by the employee. Therefore, the quits rate can serve as a measure of workers’ willingness or ability to leave jobs.” [Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2022, July 6). Job openings and Labor turnover summary – 2022 M05 results. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.]
How does your business compare to others in your industry or in your region of the country?
This report can provide a benchmark for your company or organization to measure the percentage of employees leaving your organization, compared to your industry or region of the U.S. For example, the national turnover rate for financial institutions in May of 2022 was 1.4 percent, while the overall rate for the Western region was 2.8 percent. The Western region includes Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
Orbis Advantage, Inc. specializes in business and organizational leadership consulting. Contact us for more information about strategy development, or enhancing corporate culture to help translate your vision into reality.
